زمانُtime السُّوءِof evil إنif وَافَىcomes بِرَيْبٍwith calamity
زمانُ السُّوءِ إن وَافَى بِرَيْبٍ
صديقكyour friend والقريبُand the kinsman لهto it يَذِلُّbows in submission
صديقك والقريبُ له يَذِلُّ
If a time of evil comes with calamity,
Your friend and kinsman bow before it.
شَكَتْcomplained of رُسْلَmessengers المناياof death لِيto me طُيورٌbirds
شَكَتْ رُسْلَ المنايا لِي طُيورٌ
جَوارِحُbirds of prey للسَّماءِtoward the sky تظَلُّkeep تَعْلُوsoaring
جَوارِحُ للسَّماءِ تظَلُّ تَعْلُو
Birds complained to me of death’s messengers—
Birds of prey, ever soaring toward the sky.
فقلتُso I said سَلُواask الْقَوَادِمَthe primary wing feathers والخَوافِيand the secondary wing feathers
فقلتُ سَلُوا الْقَوَادِمَ والخَوافِي
فلَوْلاfor were it not for رِيشُهاtheir feathers ماnot طالreached far نَبْلُarrows
فلَوْلا رِيشُها ما طال نَبْلُ
So I said: Ask the primary and secondary wing feathers;
For without their feathers, no arrows would fly far.
Sol 6.1