ياO أيهاyou (vocative) السيفُthe sword العليمُthe knowing وعندَهُمْand in their view
يا أيها السيفُ العليمُ وعندَهُمْ
فيconcerning السيفِthe sword إنّindeed السيفَthe sword غيرُnot عليمِknowing
في السيفِ إنّ السيفَ غيرُ عليمِ
O knowing sword, though they say
O wise sword, though they have swords,
Of the sword: 'The sword is unknowing.'
Swords lack all wisdom and thought.
هذيthis الدجاجةُthe hen فيin العذابِtorment مقيمةٌdwelling
هذي الدجاجةُ في العذابِ مقيمةٌ
وكأنّهاand as though she فيin نضْرةٍradiance ونعيمِand bliss
وكأنّها في نضْرةٍ ونعيمِ
This hen dwells in torment,
This chicken lives in constant pain,
Yet she seems to be in radiance and bliss.
Though she seems happy, without plight.
لوif كنتُI were أحكُمُto judge بالتناسخِby reincarnation صحّwould be valid ليfor me
لو كنتُ أحكُمُ بالتناسخِ صحّ لي
إدخالهاincluding her فيamong نَسْلِthe descendants of إبراهيمِAbraham
إدخالها في نَسْلِ إبراهيمِ
If I believed in reincarnation, I would be justified
If reincarnation's truth I knew,
In counting her among Abraham's descendants.
I'd make her kin to Abraham's light.