أَمِنIs it from أُمِّUmm/mother of أَوفىAwfa دِمنَةٌa campsite-trace لَمdid not تَكَلَّمِspeak
أَمِن أُمِّ أَوفى دِمنَةٌ لَم تَكَلَّمِ
بِحَومانَةِat Hawmanat الدُرّاجِal-Darraj فَالمُتَثَلَّمِthen al-Mutathallam
بِحَومانَةِ الدُرّاجِ فَالمُتَثَلَّمِ
Is there a silent campsite-trace of Umm Awfa
at Hawmanat al-Darraj, then al-Mutathallam?
وَدارٌand an abode لَهاbelonging to her بِالرَقمَتَينِat al-Raqmatayn كَأَنَّهاas though it
وَدارٌ لَها بِالرَقمَتَينِ كَأَنَّها
مَراجِعُrenewed strokes وَشمٍof a tattoo فيon نَواشِرِsinews مِعصَمِof a wrist
مَراجِعُ وَشمٍ في نَواشِرِ مِعصَمِ
And she has an abode at al-Raqmatayn, as though it were
the renewed strokes of a tattoo on the sinews of a wrist.
بِهاin it العَينُthe wide-eyed cattle وَالأَرآمُand the white antelopes يَمشينَthey walk خِلفَةًin succession
بِها العَينُ وَالأَرآمُ يَمشينَ خِلفَةً
وَأَطلاؤُهاand their young يَنهَضنَrise مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَجثِمِresting place
وَأَطلاؤُها يَنهَضنَ مِن كُلِّ مَجثِمِ
There, wide-eyed cattle and white antelopes walk in succession,
and their young rise from every resting place.
وَقَفتُand I stopped بِهاat it مِنafter بَعدِthe passing of عِشرينَtwenty حِجَّةًyears
وَقَفتُ بِها مِن بَعدِ عِشرينَ حِجَّةً
فَلَأياًand with difficulty عَرَفتُI recognized الدارَthe dwelling بَعدَafter التَوَهُّمِuncertainty
فَلَأياً عَرَفتُ الدارَ بَعدَ التَوَهُّمِ
I stopped there after twenty years,
and only with difficulty recognized the dwelling after uncertainty:
أَثافِيَّhearthstones سُفعاًblackened فيin مُعَرَّسِthe overnight site مِرجَلٍof a cauldron
أَثافِيَّ سُفعاً في مُعَرَّسِ مِرجَلٍ
وَنُؤياًand a trench كَجِذمِlike the root of الحَوضِthe pool لَمdid not يَتَثَلَّمِbreak
وَنُؤياً كَجِذمِ الحَوضِ لَم يَتَثَلَّمِ
blackened hearthstones where a cauldron had stood overnight,
and a trench like the root of a pool’s wall, still unbroken.
فَلَمّاthen when عَرَفتُI recognized الدارَthe dwelling قُلتُI said لِرَبعِهاto its ruins
فَلَمّا عَرَفتُ الدارَ قُلتُ لِرَبعِها
أَلاbehold عِمprosper صَباحاًin the morning أَيُّهاO الرَبعُthe ruins وَاِسلَمِand be safe
أَلا عِم صَباحاً أَيُّها الرَبعُ وَاِسلَمِ
When I recognized the dwelling, I said to its ruins:
“Good morning, ruins—may you prosper and remain safe.”
تَبَصَّرlook carefully خَليليmy friend هَلdo تَرىyou see مِنany ظَعائِنٍwomen in litters
تَبَصَّر خَليلي هَل تَرى مِن ظَعائِنٍ
تَحَمَّلنَthey departed بِالعَلياءِthrough al-Alya مِنfrom فَوقِabove جُرثُمِJurthum
تَحَمَّلنَ بِالعَلياءِ مِن فَوقِ جُرثُمِ
Look carefully, my friend: do you see any women borne in litters,
departing through al-Alya above Jurthum?
عَلَونَthey rose بِأَنماطٍunder coverings عِتاقٍfine and old وَكِلَّةٍand a canopy
عَلَونَ بِأَنماطٍ عِتاقٍ وَكِلَّةٍ
وِرادٍrose-red حَواشيهاtheir fringes مُشاكِهَةِresembling الدَمِblood
وِرادٍ حَواشيها مُشاكِهَةِ الدَمِ
They rose beneath fine old coverings and a canopy
whose rose-red fringes resembled blood.
وَفيهِنَّand among them مَلهىًa delight لِلصَديقِfor the friend وَمَنظَرٌand a sight
وَفيهِنَّ مَلهىً لِلصَديقِ وَمَنظَرٌ
أَنيقٌlovely لِعَينِto the eye of الناظِرِthe observer المُتَوَسِّمِthe discerning
أَنيقٌ لِعَينِ الناظِرِ المُتَوَسِّمِ
Among them were delight for a friend and a sight
lovely to the discerning observer’s eye.
بَكَرنَthey set out early بُكوراًan early departure وَاِستَحَرنَand entered morning بِسُحرَةٍat daybreak
بَكَرنَ بُكوراً وَاِستَحَرنَ بِسُحرَةٍ
فَهُنَّso they لِواديto Wadi الرَسِّal-Rass كَاليَدِlike the hand لِلفَمِto the mouth
فَهُنَّ لِوادي الرَسِّ كَاليَدِ لِلفَمِ
They set out early and entered the morning at daybreak;
they fit Wadi al-Rass as a hand fits a mouth.
جَعَلنَthey placed القَنانَal-Qanan عَنon يَمينٍthe right وَحَزنَهُand its rugged ground
جَعَلنَ القَنانَ عَن يَمينٍ وَحَزنَهُ
وَمَنand whoever بِالقَنانِat al-Qanan مِنamong مُحِلٍّone outside sacred bounds وَمُحرِمِand one within them
وَمَن بِالقَنانِ مِن مُحِلٍّ وَمُحرِمِ
They placed al-Qanan and its rugged ground on their right,
with all at al-Qanan, whether dwelling outside or within sacred bounds.
ظَهَرنَthey emerged مِنَfrom السوبانِal-Suban ثُمَّthen جَزَعنَهُcrossed it
ظَهَرنَ مِنَ السوبانِ ثُمَّ جَزَعنَهُ
عَلىon كُلِّevery قَينِيٍّQayni-made litter قَشيبٍnew مُفَأَّمِamply furnished
عَلى كُلِّ قَينِيٍّ قَشيبٍ مُفَأَّمِ
They emerged from al-Suban, then crossed it
on every new, amply furnished litter made by Qayn.
كَأَنَّas though فُتاتَscraps العِهنِof dyed wool فيin كُلِّevery مَنزِلٍstopping place
كَأَنَّ فُتاتَ العِهنِ في كُلِّ مَنزِلٍ
نَزَلنَthey alighted بِهِin it حَبُّberries الفَناof the fana shrub لَمwere not يُحَطَّمِcrushed
نَزَلنَ بِهِ حَبُّ الفَنا لَم يُحَطَّمِ
It was as though scraps of dyed wool at every stopping place
where they alighted were uncrushed fana berries.
فَلَمّاthen when وَرَدنَthey reached الماءَthe water زُرقاًblue جِمامُهُits pools
فَلَمّا وَرَدنَ الماءَ زُرقاً جِمامُهُ
وَضَعنَthey planted عِصِيَّthe staffs الحاضِرِof the settled camper المُتَخَيِّمِthe tent-pitching
وَضَعنَ عِصِيَّ الحاضِرِ المُتَخَيِّمِ
When they reached the water, whose pools were blue,
they planted the staffs of settled campers pitching their tents.
سَعىstrove ساعِياtwo peacemakers غَيظِof Ghayz بنِson of مُرَّةَMurra بَعدَماafter
سَعى ساعِيا غَيظِ بنِ مُرَّةَ بَعدَما
تَبَزَّلَwas laid bare ماwhat بَينَbetween العَشيرَةِthe clan بِالدَمِwith blood
تَبَزَّلَ ما بَينَ العَشيرَةِ بِالدَمِ
Two peacemakers strove concerning Ghayz ibn Murra after
relations among the clan had been laid bare by bloodshed.
فَأَقسَمتُso I swore بِالبَيتِby the House الَّذيwhich طافَcircumambulated حَولَهُaround it
فَأَقسَمتُ بِالبَيتِ الَّذي طافَ حَولَهُ
رِجالٌmen بَنَوهُbuilt it مِنfrom قُرَيشٍQuraysh وَجُرهُمِand Jurhum
رِجالٌ بَنَوهُ مِن قُرَيشٍ وَجُرهُمِ
I swear by the House around which circumambulated
men of Quraysh and Jurhum who built it:
يَميناًan oath لَنِعمَhow excellent السَيِّدانِthe two chiefs وُجِدتُماyou two were found
يَميناً لَنِعمَ السَيِّدانِ وُجِدتُما
عَلىin كُلِّevery حالٍcondition مِنwhether سَحيلٍsimple وَمُبرَمِand tightly twisted
عَلى كُلِّ حالٍ مِن سَحيلٍ وَمُبرَمِ
a solemn oath—you two were found to be excellent chiefs
in every circumstance, whether simple or tightly entangled.
تَدارَكتُماyou two rescued عَبساًAbs وَذُبيانَand Dhubyan بَعدَماafter
تَدارَكتُما عَبساً وَذُبيانَ بَعدَما
تَفانواthey destroyed one another وَدَقّواand they ground بَينَهُمamong themselves عِطرَthe perfume of مَنشِمِManashim
تَفانوا وَدَقّوا بَينَهُم عِطرَ مَنشِمِ
You rescued Abs and Dhubyan after
they had nearly destroyed each other and ground Manashim’s perfume between them.
وَقَدand indeed قُلتُماyou two said إِنif نُدرِكِwe attain السِلمَpeace واسِعاًbroadly
وَقَد قُلتُما إِن نُدرِكِ السِلمَ واسِعاً
بِمالٍwith wealth وَمَعروفٍand honorable conduct مِنَfrom الأَمرِthe affair نَسلَمِwe shall be safe
بِمالٍ وَمَعروفٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ نَسلَمِ
You had said, “If we can attain a broad peace
through wealth and honorable conduct, we shall be safe.”
فَأَصبَحتُماso you two became مِنهاthrough it عَلىin خَيرِthe best مَوطِنٍposition
فَأَصبَحتُما مِنها عَلى خَيرِ مَوطِنٍ
بَعيدَينِtwo far removed فيهاwithin it مِنfrom عُقوقٍdisobedience وَمَأثَمِand sin
بَعيدَينِ فيها مِن عُقوقٍ وَمَأثَمِ
Through it, you came to occupy the best position,
far removed in it from disobedience and sin,
عَظيمَينِtwo great men فيamong عُلياthe nobles of مَعَدٍّMa'add وَغَيرِهاand others
عَظيمَينِ في عُليا مَعَدٍّ وَغَيرِها
وَمَنand whoever يَستَبِحlays claim to كَنزاًa treasure مِنَof المَجدِglory يَعظُمِbecomes great
وَمَن يَستَبِح كَنزاً مِنَ المَجدِ يَعظُمِ
great among the nobles of Ma'add and beyond them;
whoever lays claim to a treasure of glory becomes great.
فَأَصبَحَso it began يَجريto flow فيهُمُamong them مِنfrom تِلادِكُمyour inherited wealth
فَأَصبَحَ يَجري فيهُمُ مِن تِلادِكُم
مَغانِمُdiverse gains شَتّىvarious مِنfrom إِفالِyoung camels المُزَنَّمِthe branded
مَغانِمُ شَتّى مِن إِفالِ المُزَنَّمِ
Then among them there flowed from your inherited wealth
diverse prizes of branded young camels.
تُعَفّىare effaced الكُلومُthe wounds بِالمِئينَwith hundreds فَأَصبَحَتand so became
تُعَفّى الكُلومُ بِالمِئينَ فَأَصبَحَت
يُنَجِّمُهاpays them in installments مَنone who لَيسَis not فيهاin it بِمُجرِمِa criminal
يُنَجِّمُها مَن لَيسَ فيها بِمُجرِمِ
Wounds are effaced by hundreds of camels, which came to be
paid in installments by one who had committed no crime in the war.
يُنَجِّمُهاthey pay them in installments قَومٌa people لِقَومٍto a people غَرامَةًas indemnity
يُنَجِّمُها قَومٌ لِقَومٍ غَرامَةً
وَلَمand they did not يُهَريقواshed بَينَهُمamong themselves مِلءَthe fill of مِحجَمِa cupping glass
وَلَم يُهَريقوا بَينَهُم مِلءَ مِحجَمِ
A people pay them by installments to another people as indemnity,
though they did not shed among themselves even a cupping-glassful of blood.
فَمِنthen who will convey مُبلِغُto the confederates الأَحلافِfrom me عَنّيa message given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet رِسالَةًa message
فَمِن مُبلِغُ الأَحلافِ عَنّي رِسالَةً
وَذُبيانَand Dhubyan هَلhave أَقسَمتُمُyou sworn كُلَّevery مُقسَمِbinding oath
وَذُبيانَ هَل أَقسَمتُمُ كُلَّ مُقسَمِ
Who will carry from me a message to the confederates
and Dhubyan: have you sworn every binding oath?
فَلاso do not conceal تَكتُمُنَّfrom God اللَهَwhat ماwithin فيyour souls given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet نُفوسِكُمwhat is in your hearts
فَلا تَكتُمُنَّ اللَهَ ما في نُفوسِكُم
لِيَخفىso it may hide وَمَهماand whatever يُكتَمِis concealed اللَهُGod يَعلَمِknows
لِيَخفى وَمَهما يُكتَمِ اللَهُ يَعلَمِ
Do not conceal from God what lies within your souls
hoping it will remain hidden; whatever is concealed, God knows.
يُؤَخَّرit is deferred فَيوضَعthen placed فيin كِتابٍa record فَيُدَّخَرthen stored
يُؤَخَّر فَيوضَع في كِتابٍ فَيُدَّخَر
لِيَومِfor the Day of الحِسابِreckoning أَوor يُعَجَّلis hastened فَيُنقَمِthen avenged
لِيَومِ الحِسابِ أَو يُعَجَّل فَيُنقَمِ
It may be deferred, entered in a record, and stored
for Judgment Day, or hastened and avenged.
وَماand war is not الحَربُwar إِلّاexcept ماwhat عَلِمتُمyou have known وَذُقتُمُand tasted
وَما الحَربُ إِلّا ما عَلِمتُم وَذُقتُمُ
وَماand it is not هُوَit عَنهاabout it بِالحَديثِa tale المُرَجَّمِconjectured
وَما هُوَ عَنها بِالحَديثِ المُرَجَّمِ
War is nothing but what you have known and tasted;
what I say of it is no conjectural tale.
مَتىwhenever تَبعَثوهاyou rouse it تَبعَثوهاyou rouse it ذَميمَةًloathsome
مَتى تَبعَثوها تَبعَثوها ذَميمَةً
وَتَضرَand it grows fierce إِذاwhen ضَرَّيتُموهاyou make it fierce فَتَضرَمِthen it blazes
وَتَضرَ إِذا ضَرَّيتُموها فَتَضرَمِ
Whenever you rouse it, you rouse a loathsome thing,
and when you feed its fury, it grows fierce and blazes.
فَتَعرُكُّمُso it grinds you عَركَthe grinding of الرَحىthe millstone بِثِفالِهاwith its lower stone
فَتَعرُكُّمُ عَركَ الرَحى بِثِفالِها
وَتَلقَحand it conceives كِشافاًin successive matings ثُمَّthen تَحمِلit carries فَتُتئِمِand bears twins
وَتَلقَح كِشافاً ثُمَّ تَحمِل فَتُتئِمِ
It grinds you as a millstone grinds upon its lower stone,
conceives twin-bearing in successive matings, then carries and bears twins.
فَتُنتَجso it produces لَكُمfor you غِلمانَboys أَشأَمَmore ill-omened كُلُّهُمall of them
فَتُنتَج لَكُم غِلمانَ أَشأَمَ كُلُّهُم
كَأَحمَرِlike the Red One of عادٍAd ثُمَّthen تُرضِعit nurses فَتَفطِمِthen weans
كَأَحمَرِ عادٍ ثُمَّ تُرضِع فَتَفطِمِ
It produces for you boys, all of them ill-omened,
like the Red One of Ad; then it nurses them and weans them.
فَتُغلِلso it yields لَكُمfor you ماwhat لاit does not yield تُغِلُّfor its people given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet لِأَهلِهاwhat it does not yield for its own people
فَتُغلِل لَكُم ما لا تُغِلُّ لِأَهلِها
قُرىًvillages بِالعِراقِin Iraq مِنof قَفيزٍa qafiz وَدِرهَمِand a dirham
قُرىً بِالعِراقِ مِن قَفيزٍ وَدِرهَمِ
It yields for you what it does not yield for its own people:
villages in Iraq measured in qafizes and dirhams.
لَعَمريby my life لَنِعمَhow excellent الحَيُّthe clan جَرَّhe brought عَلَيهِمُupon them
لَعَمري لَنِعمَ الحَيُّ جَرَّ عَلَيهِمُ
بِماwith what لاdoes not accord with them يُواتيهِمHusayn حُصَينُson of بنُDamdam given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet ضَمضَمِwhat Husayn ibn Damdam did not bring in accord with them
بِما لا يُواتيهِم حُصَينُ بنُ ضَمضَمِ
By my life, excellent were the people upon whom he brought
what Husayn ibn Damdam did not bring in harmony with them.
وَكانَand he had طَوىfolded كَشحاًa flank عَلىover مُستَكِنَّةٍa hidden resolve
وَكانَ طَوى كَشحاً عَلى مُستَكِنَّةٍ
فَلاso neither هُوَhe أَبداهاrevealed it وَلَمnor يَتَجَمجَمِhesitated
فَلا هُوَ أَبداها وَلَم يَتَجَمجَمِ
He had folded his flank over a hidden resolve,
neither revealing it nor faltering over it.
وَقالَand he said سَأَقضيI shall fulfill حاجَتيmy need ثُمَّthen أَتَّقيI shall guard myself
وَقالَ سَأَقضي حاجَتي ثُمَّ أَتَّقي
عَدُوّيmy enemy بِأَلفٍwith a thousand مِنfrom وَرائِيَbehind me مُلجَمِbridled
عَدُوّي بِأَلفٍ مِن وَرائِيَ مُلجَمِ
He said, “I shall satisfy my need, then guard myself
against my enemy with a thousand bridled men behind me.”
فَشَدَّso he charged وَلَمand did not تَفزَعtake alarm بُيوتٌhouseholds كَثيرَةٌmany
فَشَدَّ وَلَم تَفزَع بُيوتٌ كَثيرَةٌ
لَدىthere حَيثُwhere أَلقَتset down رَحلَهاits baggage أُمُّUmm قَشعَمِQash'am
لَدى حَيثُ أَلقَت رَحلَها أُمُّ قَشعَمِ
He charged, while many households did not take alarm,
there where Umm Qash'am had set down her baggage,
لَدىbeside أَسَدٍa lion شاكيfully armed السِلاحِthick-set given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet مُقَذَّفٍbeside a fully armed, thick-set lion
لَدى أَسَدٍ شاكي السِلاحِ مُقَذَّفٍ
لَهُfor him لِبَدٌa mane أَظفارُهُhis claws لَمwere not تُقَلَّمِclipped
لَهُ لِبَدٌ أَظفارُهُ لَم تُقَلَّمِ
beside a lion, fully armed and thick-set,
with a mane whose claws had not been clipped—
جَريءٍbold مَتىwhenever يُظلَمhe is wronged يُعاقِبhe retaliates بِظُلمِهِwith his wrong
جَريءٍ مَتى يُظلَم يُعاقِب بِظُلمِهِ
سَريعاًswiftly وَإِلّاand if not يُبدَhe is begun against بِالظُلمِwith wrong يَظلِمِhe wrongs
سَريعاً وَإِلّا يُبدَ بِالظُلمِ يَظلِمِ
bold: whenever wronged, he swiftly retaliates
with wrong; and if not first treated unjustly, he himself wrongs.
رَعَواthey grazed ماas رَعَواthey grazed مِنdespite their thirst ظِمئِهِمthen ثُمَّthey brought to water given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet أَورَدواthen they brought them to water
رَعَوا ما رَعَوا مِن ظِمئِهِم ثُمَّ أَورَدوا
غِماراًengulfing waters تَسيلُflowing بِالرِماحِwith spears وَبِالدَمِand with blood
غِماراً تَسيلُ بِالرِماحِ وَبِالدَمِ
They grazed as long as they grazed despite their thirst, then brought their herd
to engulfing waters flowing with spears and blood.
فَقَضَّواso they fulfilled مَناياallotted deaths بَينَهُمamong themselves ثُمَّthen أَصدَرواthey led out
فَقَضَّوا مَنايا بَينَهُم ثُمَّ أَصدَروا
إِلىtoward كَلَأٍpasture مُستَوبِلٍpestilential مُتَوَخَّمِunhealthy
إِلى كَلَأٍ مُستَوبِلٍ مُتَوَخَّمِ
They fulfilled allotted deaths among themselves, then led the herd out
toward pestilential, unhealthy pasture.
لَعَمرُكَby your life ماdid not جَرَّتbring عَلَيهِمupon them رِماحُهُمtheir spears
لَعَمرُكَ ما جَرَّت عَلَيهِم رِماحُهُم
دَمَthe blood of اِبنِson of نَهيكٍNahik أَوor قَتيلِthe slain man of المُثَلَّمِal-Muthallam
دَمَ اِبنِ نَهيكٍ أَو قَتيلِ المُثَلَّمِ
By your life, their spears did not bring upon them
the blood of Ibn Nahik or the slain man of al-Muthallam.
وَلاand they did not شارَكواshare فيin القَومِthe people فيin دَمِthe blood of نَوفَلٍNawfal
وَلا شارَكوا في القَومِ في دَمِ نَوفَلٍ
وَلاnor وَهَبٍWahb مِنهُمamong them وَلاnor اِبنِson of المُحَزَّمِal-Muhazzam
وَلا وَهَبٍ مِنهُم وَلا اِبنِ المُحَزَّمِ
Nor did they share with the people in the blood of Nawfal,
nor Wahb among them, nor Ibn al-Muhazzam.
فَكُلّاًyet all أَراهُمI see them أَصبَحواthey became يَعقِلونَهُمpaying blood-money for them
فَكُلّاً أَراهُم أَصبَحوا يَعقِلونَهُم
عُلالَةَthe residue of أَلفٍa thousand بَعدَafter أَلفٍa thousand مُصَتَّمِcomplete
عُلالَةَ أَلفٍ بَعدَ أَلفٍ مُصَتَّمِ
Yet I see them paying blood-money for them all,
the residue of a full thousand after another thousand,
تُساقُis driven إِلىto قَومٍa people لِقَومٍfor a people غَرامَةًas indemnity
تُساقُ إِلى قَومٍ لِقَومٍ غَرامَةً
صَحيحاتِsound ones مالٍof wealth طالِعاتٍascending بِمَخرِمِthrough a mountain pass
صَحيحاتِ مالٍ طالِعاتٍ بِمَخرِمِ
driven to one people on behalf of another as indemnity:
sound, valuable camels ascending a mountain pass,
لِحَيٍّfor a clan حِلالٍupright يَعصِمُprotects الناسَthe people أَمرُهُمtheir command
لِحَيٍّ حِلالٍ يَعصِمُ الناسَ أَمرُهُم
إِذاwhen طَلَعَتrises إِحدىone of اللَياليthe nights بِمُعظَمِwith a grave calamity
إِذا طَلَعَت إِحدى اللَيالي بِمُعظَمِ
for an upright clan whose command protects the people
when some grave night rises with an immense calamity—
كِرامٍnoble فَلاso no ذوpossessor of vengeance الوِترِattains يُدرِكُhis vengeance given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet وِترَهُamong noble men, no avenger attains his vengeance
كِرامٍ فَلا ذو الوِترِ يُدرِكُ وِترَهُ
لَدَيهِمamong them وَلاnor الجانيthe offender عَلَيهِمagainst them بِمُسلَمِis surrendered
لَدَيهِم وَلا الجاني عَلَيهِم بِمُسلَمِ
noble men, among whom no avenger gains his vengeance,
nor is an offender against them surrendered.
سَئِمتُI have wearied تَكاليفَof the burdens الحَياةِof life وَمَنand whoever يَعِشlives
سَئِمتُ تَكاليفَ الحَياةِ وَمَن يَعِش
ثَمانينَeighty حَولاًyears لاno أَباfather لَكَfor you يَسأَمِgrows weary
ثَمانينَ حَولاً لا أَبا لَكَ يَسأَمِ
I have wearied of life’s burdens; whoever lives
eighty years—may you lose your father—grows weary.
رَأَيتُI have seen المَناياdeaths خَبطَthe blind striking of عَشواءَa night-blind she-camel مَنwhomever تُصِبthey strike
رَأَيتُ المَنايا خَبطَ عَشواءَ مَن تُصِب
تُمِتهُthey kill him وَمَنand whomever تُخطِئthey miss يُعَمَّرlives long فَيَهرَمِthen grows decrepit
تُمِتهُ وَمَن تُخطِئ يُعَمَّر فَيَهرَمِ
I have seen death strike blindly: whomever it hits
it kills, and whomever it misses lives long and grows decrepit.
وَأَعلَمُand I know عِلمَthe knowledge of اليَومِtoday وَالأَمسِand yesterday قَبلَهُbefore it
وَأَعلَمُ عِلمَ اليَومِ وَالأَمسِ قَبلَهُ
وَلَكِنَّنيbut I عَنconcerning عِلمِknowledge of ماwhat فيin غَدٍtomorrow عَميam blind
وَلَكِنَّني عَن عِلمِ ما في غَدٍ عَمي
I know what is known of today and of yesterday before it,
but of the knowledge of what tomorrow holds, I am blind.
وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يُصانِعaccommodate others فيin أُمورٍaffairs كَثيرَةٍmany
وَمَن لا يُصانِع في أُمورٍ كَثيرَةٍ
يُضَرَّسis bitten بِأَنيابٍwith fangs وَيوطَأand is trampled بِمَنسِمِwith a camel's foot
يُضَرَّس بِأَنيابٍ وَيوطَأ بِمَنسِمِ
Whoever does not accommodate others in many affairs
is bitten by fangs and trampled beneath a camel’s foot.
وَمَنand whoever يَكُis ذاpossessor of فَضلٍabundance فَيَبخَلthen withholds بِفَضلِهِits bounty
وَمَن يَكُ ذا فَضلٍ فَيَبخَل بِفَضلِهِ
عَلىfrom قَومِهِhis people يُستَغنَthey dispense عَنهُwith him وَيُذمَمِand he is blamed
عَلى قَومِهِ يُستَغنَ عَنهُ وَيُذمَمِ
Whoever possesses abundance but withholds its bounty
from his people is dispensed with and condemned.
وَمَنand whoever يَجعَلِplaces المَعروفَgood conduct مِنbefore دونِhis honor given directly to the recipient/person to convey it to them from the poet عِرضِهِwhoever shields his honor with good conduct
وَمَن يَجعَلِ المَعروفَ مِن دونِ عِرضِهِ
يَفِرهُpreserves it وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يَتَّقِguard against الشَتمَabuse يُشتَمِis abused
يَفِرهُ وَمَن لا يَتَّقِ الشَتمَ يُشتَمِ
Whoever sets good deeds as a shield before his honor
preserves it; whoever does not guard against abuse is abused.
وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يَذُدdefend عَنfrom حَوضِهِhis watering place بِسِلاحِهِwith his weapon
وَمَن لا يَذُد عَن حَوضِهِ بِسِلاحِهِ
يُهَدَّمit is demolished وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يَظلِمِwrong الناسَthe people يُظلَمِis wronged
يُهَدَّم وَمَن لا يَظلِمِ الناسَ يُظلَمِ
Whoever does not defend his watering place with his weapons
has it demolished; whoever does not wrong people is wronged.
وَمَنand whoever هابَfears أَسبابَthe paths of المَنِيَّةِdeath يَلقَهاencounters it
وَمَن هابَ أَسبابَ المَنِيَّةِ يَلقَها
وَلَوeven if رامَhe seeks أَسبابَthe pathways of السَماءِheaven بِسُلَّمِwith a ladder
وَلَو رامَ أَسبابَ السَماءِ بِسُلَّمِ
Whoever fears the paths of death will encounter it,
even if he seeks the pathways of heaven with a ladder.
وَمَنand whoever يَعصِdisobeys أَطرافَthe butt ends of الزُجاجِthe spears فَإِنَّهُthen indeed he
وَمَن يَعصِ أَطرافَ الزُجاجِ فَإِنَّهُ
يُطيعُobeys العَواليthe spearheads رُكِّبَتmounted كُلَّon every لَهذَمِstout spear
يُطيعُ العَوالي رُكِّبَت كُلَّ لَهذَمِ
Whoever disobeys the spear’s butt ends
will obey the spearheads mounted on every stout shaft.
وَمَنand whoever يوفِkeeps faith لاis not يُذمَمblamed وَمَنand whoever يُفضِproceeds قَلبُهُhis heart
وَمَن يوفِ لا يُذمَم وَمَن يُفضِ قَلبُهُ
إِلىtoward مُطمَئِنِّthe secure ground of البِرِّrighteousness لاdoes not يَتَجَمجَمِhesitate
إِلى مُطمَئِنِّ البِرِّ لا يَتَجَمجَمِ
Whoever keeps faith is not blamed; whoever’s heart proceeds
toward the secure ground of righteousness does not hesitate.
وَمَنand whoever يَغتَرِبlives abroad يَحسِبsupposes عَدُوّاًan enemy صَديقَهُhis friend
وَمَن يَغتَرِب يَحسِب عَدُوّاً صَديقَهُ
وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يُكَرِّمhonor نَفسَهُhimself لاis not يُكَرَّمِhonored
وَمَن لا يُكَرِّم نَفسَهُ لا يُكَرَّمِ
Whoever lives abroad mistakes his enemy for his friend;
whoever does not honor himself will not be honored.
وَمَهماand whatever تَكُنmay be عِندَwith اِمرِئٍa person مِنof خَليقَةٍa trait
وَمَهما تَكُن عِندَ اِمرِئٍ مِن خَليقَةٍ
وَإِنand even if خالَهاhe thinks it تَخفىhidden عَلىfrom الناسِthe people تُعلَمِit becomes known
وَإِن خالَها تَخفى عَلى الناسِ تُعلَمِ
Whatever trait a person may possess,
even if he thinks it hidden from people, it becomes known.
وَمَنand whoever لاdoes not يَزَلcease يَستَحمِلُmaking bear الناسَthe people نَفسَهُhimself
وَمَن لا يَزَل يَستَحمِلُ الناسَ نَفسَهُ
وَلاand does not يُغنِهاspare it يَوماًone day مِنَof الدَهرِtime يُسأَمِis wearied of
وَلا يُغنِها يَوماً مِنَ الدَهرِ يُسأَمِ
Whoever continually makes himself a burden upon people
and never spares himself from doing so will one day be wearied of.
gpt-5.6-sol