ياO حَسرَةًsorrow ماnot أَكادُI almost أَحمِلُهاbear it
يا حَسرَةً ما أَكادُ أَحمِلُها
آخِرُهاits end مُزعِجٌdistressing وَأَوَّلُهاand its beginning
آخِرُها مُزعِجٌ وَأَوَّلُها
O sorrow that I can scarcely bear!
O my deep regret, I can barely endure,
Its end is distressing, and so is its beginning.
Its end is disturbing, its beginning ailing,
عَليلَةٌan ailing woman بِالشَآمِin al-Sham مُفرَدَةٌalone
عَليلَةٌ بِالشَآمِ مُفرَدَةٌ
باتَspent the night بِأَيديin the hands of العِدىthe enemies مُعَلِّلُهاher comforter
باتَ بِأَيدي العِدى مُعَلِّلُها
An ailing woman, alone in al-Sham,
Alone in Damascus, abandoned,
Her comforter spent the night in the enemies' hands.
In the hands of enemies, her illness worsening.
تُمسِكُshe clutches أَحشاءَهاher insides عَلىover حُرَقٍburning pangs
تُمسِكُ أَحشاءَها عَلى حُرَقٍ
تُطفِئُهاshe quenches them وَالهُمومُwhile cares تُشعِلُهاkindle them
تُطفِئُها وَالهُمومُ تُشعِلُها
She clutches her insides over burning pangs;
She clasps her bosom over burning embers,
She quenches them, while cares kindle them.
Extinguishing them while worries ignite them,
إِذاwhen اِطمَأَنَّتshe grows calm وَأَينَand where أَوor هَدَأَتshe falls quiet
إِذا اِطمَأَنَّت وَأَينَ أَو هَدَأَت
عَنَّتarises لَهاfor her ذُكرَةٌa memory تُقَلقِلُهاunsettles her
عَنَّت لَها ذُكرَةٌ تُقَلقِلُها
When she grows calm—but where?—or falls quiet,
If she finds peace, where can she find it?
A memory comes to her, unsettling her.
A memory disturbs her when she is tranquil.
تَسأَلُshe asks عَنّاabout us الرُكبانَthe riders جاهِدَةًearnestly
تَسأَلُ عَنّا الرُكبانَ جاهِدَةً
بِأَدمُعٍwith tears ماتَكادُthey scarcely تُمهِلُهاgive her respite
بِأَدمُعٍ ماتَكادُ تُمهِلُها
She earnestly asks the riders about us,
She asks the traveling caravans insistently,
Through tears that scarcely give her respite.
With tears that can barely be contained,
يامَنO you who رَأىhave seen ليfor me بِحِصنِat the fortress of خِرشَنَةٍKhirshana
يامَن رَأى لي بِحِصنِ خِرشَنَةٍ
أُسدَlions of شَرىًShara فيin القُيودِchains أَرجُلُهاtheir legs
أُسدَ شَرىً في القُيودِ أَرجُلُها
O you who have seen for me, at Khirshana's fortress,
O you who saw her fortress of Khirshana,
Lions of Shara, their legs in chains!
With feet bound in shackles like a captive lion.
يامَنO you who رَأىhave seen ليfor me الدُروبَthe mountain passes شامِخَةًtowering
يامَن رَأى لي الدُروبَ شامِخَةً
دونَbarring لِقاءِa meeting with الحَبيبِthe beloved أَطوَلُهاtheir longest
دونَ لِقاءِ الحَبيبِ أَطوَلُها
O you who have seen for me the towering passes,
O you who saw the roads lofty for me,
Their longest barring a meeting with the beloved!
Without meeting the beloved, their longest,
يامَنO you who رَأىhave seen ليfor me القُيودَthe chains موثَقَةٌfirmly fastened
يامَن رَأى لي القُيودَ موثَقَةٌ
عَلىupon حَبيبِthe beloved of الفُؤادِthe heart أَثقَلُهاtheir heaviest
عَلى حَبيبِ الفُؤادِ أَثقَلُها
O you who have seen for me the chains fastened tight,
O you who saw my shackles fastened
Their heaviest upon the heart's beloved!
Upon the beloved of my heart, their heaviest.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الراكِبانِtwo riders هَلis there لَكُماfor you both
يا أَيُّها الراكِبانِ هَل لَكُما
فيin حَملِcarrying نَجوىa private message يَخِفُّis light مَحمَلُهاits burden
في حَملِ نَجوى يَخِفُّ مَحمَلُها
O you two riders, would you be willing
O you two riders, can you carry
To carry a private message whose burden is light?
A soft whisper to ease its burden?
قولاtell, you two لَهاher إِنif وَعَتshe understands مَقالَكُماthe words of you both
قولا لَها إِن وَعَت مَقالَكُما
وَإِنَّand indeed ذِكريmention of me لَهاto her لَيُذهِلُهاsurely overwhelms her
وَإِنَّ ذِكري لَها لَيُذهِلُها
Tell her, if she grasps your words—
Tell her if she comprehends your words,
And surely mention of me will overwhelm her—
That the memory of me will overwhelm her.
ياO أُمَّتاmy mother هَذِهِthese مَنازِلُناour dwellings
يا أُمَّتا هَذِهِ مَنازِلُنا
نَترِكُهاwe leave them تارَةًat times وَنَنزِلُهاand we settle in them
نَترِكُها تارَةً وَنَنزِلُها
O my mother, these are our dwellings;
O my nation, these are our dwellings
We leave them at times, and settle in them.
We leave them sometimes and lodge in them.
ياO أُمَّتاmy mother هَذِهِthese مَوارِدُناour watering places
يا أُمَّتا هَذِهِ مَوارِدُنا
نَعُلُّهاwe drink again from them تارَةًat times وَنُنهَلُهاand we receive a first draught from them
نَعُلُّها تارَةً وَنُنهَلُها
O my mother, these are our watering places;
O my nation, these are our watering holes
At times we drink again from them, and receive our first draught.
We roil them sometimes and draw from them.
أَسلَمَناhanded us over قَومُناour people إِلىto نُوَبٍcalamities
أَسلَمَنا قَومُنا إِلى نُوَبٍ
أَيسَرُهاtheir lightest فيin القُلوبِhearts أَقتَلُهاtheir deadliest
أَيسَرُها في القُلوبِ أَقتَلُها
Our people handed us over to calamities,
Our people surrendered us to misfortunes,
The lightest of which is the deadliest to the heart.
The easiest of them lethal in hearts.
وَاِستَبدَلواand they took replacements بَعدَناafter us رِجالَmen of وَغىًbattle
وَاِستَبدَلوا بَعدَنا رِجالَ وَغىً
يَوَدُّlongs for أَدنىthe least of عُلايَmy eminence أَمثَلُهاtheir finest
يَوَدُّ أَدنى عُلايَ أَمثَلُها
And after us they took other warriors in our place;
After us they replaced men of corruption,
Their finest longs for the least of my eminence.
Who wish for the lowest of my heights.
لَيسَتdo not تَنالُharm القُيودُthe chains مِنof قَدَميmy foot
لَيسَت تَنالُ القُيودُ مِن قَدَمي
وَفيand in اِتِّباعيmy pursuit of رِضاكَyour approval أَحمِلُهاI bear them
وَفي اِتِّباعي رِضاكَ أَحمِلُها
The chains do not harm my foot;
Shackles cannot touch my feet,
And in pursuing your approval, I bear them.
And in following your approval, I bear them.
ياسَيِّداًO lord ماتُعَدُّis never reckoned مَكرُمَةٌa noble deed
ياسَيِّداً ماتُعَدُّ مَكرُمَةٌ
إِلّاexcept وَفيand in راحَتَيهِhis two palms أَكمَلُهاits fullest form
إِلّا وَفي راحَتَيهِ أَكمَلُها
O lord, no noble deed is reckoned
O master, no act of generosity is counted
But its fullest form lies in his two palms.
Unless easing her is its perfection.
لاتَتَيَمَّمdo not perform dry ablution وَالماءُwhile water تُدرِكُهُyou can reach it
لاتَتَيَمَّم وَالماءُ تُدرِكُهُ
غَيرُكَsomeone besides you يَرضىis content with الصُغرىthe lesser وَيَقبَلُهاand accepts it
غَيرُكَ يَرضى الصُغرى وَيَقبَلُها
Do not perform dry ablution while water is within reach;
Do not wipe yourself dry when water reaches you,
Others are content with the lesser and accept it.
While others accept the inferior and take it.
إِنَّindeed بَنيthe sons of العَمِّthe paternal uncle لَستَyou do not تَخلُفُهُمreplace them
إِنَّ بَني العَمِّ لَستَ تَخلُفُهُم
إِنif عادَتِreturn الأُسدُthe lions عادَreturn أَشبُلُهاtheir cubs
إِن عادَتِ الأُسدُ عادَ أَشبُلُها
Indeed, you cannot replace your paternal cousins;
The sons of my uncle will not fail you
If the lions return, their cubs return.
If the lion returns, so will its cubs.
أَنتَyou سَماءٌa sky وَنَحنُand we أَنجُمُهاits stars
أَنتَ سَماءٌ وَنَحنُ أَنجُمُها
أَنتَyou بِلادٌa land وَنَحنُand we أَجبُلُهاits mountains
أَنتَ بِلادٌ وَنَحنُ أَجبُلُها
You are a sky, and we are its stars;
You are the sky and we are its stars,
You are a land, and we are its mountains.
You are the land and we are its mountains.
أَنتَyou سَحابٌa cloud وَنَحنُand we وابِلُهُits downpour
أَنتَ سَحابٌ وَنَحنُ وابِلُهُ
أَنتَyou يَمينٌa right hand وَنَحنُand we أَنمُلُهاits fingertips
أَنتَ يَمينٌ وَنَحنُ أَنمُلُها
You are a cloud, and we are its downpour;
You are the raincloud and we are its rain,
You are a right hand, and we are its fingertips.
You are the hand and we are its fingers.
بِأَيِّwith what عُذرٍexcuse رَدَدتَdid you turn away والِهَةًa grief-stricken woman
بِأَيِّ عُذرٍ رَدَدتَ والِهَةً
عَلَيكَon you دونَto the exclusion of الوَرىmankind مُعَوَّلُهاher reliance
عَلَيكَ دونَ الوَرى مُعَوَّلُها
With what excuse did you turn away a grief-stricken woman,
With what excuse did you spurn devoted souls
Whose reliance is on you alone among mankind?
With no recourse but you in the world?
جاءَتكَshe came to you تَمتاحُseeking to draw forth رَدَّthe return of واحِدِهاher only son
جاءَتكَ تَمتاحُ رَدَّ واحِدِها
يَنتَظِرُawait الناسُthe people كَيفَhow تُقفِلُهاyou send her home
يَنتَظِرُ الناسُ كَيفَ تُقفِلُها
She came to you seeking her only son's return;
She came to you to find shelter—reject one
People wait to see how you will send her home.
And people wait to see how you will lock her out.
سَمَحتَyou freely gave up مِنّيof mine بِمُهجَةٍa life كَرُمَتwas precious
سَمَحتَ مِنّي بِمُهجَةٍ كَرُمَت
أَنتَyou عَلىdespite يَأسِهاits despair مُؤَمَّلُهاits hope
أَنتَ عَلى يَأسِها مُؤَمَّلُها
You have freely surrendered my precious life;
You allowed me a generous gift, hoping
Despite its despair, you remain its hope.
You would have mercy though she despaired.
إِنif كُنتَyou have لَمnot تَبذِلِoffered الفِداءَthe ransom لَهاfor it
إِن كُنتَ لَم تَبذِلِ الفِداءَ لَها
فَلَمstill, not أَزَلI have ceased فيfor رِضاكَyour approval أَبذِلُهاI offer it
فَلَم أَزَل في رِضاكَ أَبذِلُها
If you have not offered the ransom for it,
If you did not pay her ransom,
Still, I have never ceased to offer it for your approval.
I never ceased to please you and pay it.
تِلكَthose المَوَدّاتُbonds of affection كَيفَhow تُهمِلُهاyou neglect them
تِلكَ المَوَدّاتُ كَيفَ تُهمِلُها
تِلكَthose المَواعيدُpromises كَيفَhow تُغفِلُهاyou disregard them
تِلكَ المَواعيدُ كَيفَ تُغفِلُها
Those bonds of affection—how can you neglect them?
How can you neglect that affection?
Those promises—how can you disregard them?
How can you overlook those promises?
تِلكَthose العُقودُcovenants الَّتيthat عَقَدتَyou made لَناfor us
تِلكَ العُقودُ الَّتي عَقَدتَ لَنا
كَيفَhow وَقَدwhen already أُحكِمَتthey were made firm تُحَلِّلُهاyou unbind them
كَيفَ وَقَد أُحكِمَت تُحَلِّلُها
Those covenants that you made with us—
Those pacts you tied with us—
How, once made firm, can you unbind them?
How can you, once binding them, now loose them?
أَرحامُناour kinship ties مِنكَwith you لِمwhy تُقَطِّعُهاdo you sever them
أَرحامُنا مِنكَ لِم تُقَطِّعُها
وَلَمand not تَزَلyou have ceased دائِباًtirelessly تُوَصِّلُهاjoining them
وَلَم تَزَل دائِباً تُوَصِّلُها
Why do you sever our kinship ties with you,
Why sever ties of kinship with you
When you have always striven to knit them together?
When you constantly kept connecting them?
أَينَwhere المَعاليnoble deeds الَّتيwhich عُرِفتَyou are known بِهاfor them
أَينَ المَعالي الَّتي عُرِفتَ بِها
تَقولُهاyou proclaim them دائِماًalways وَتَفعَلُهاand you perform them
تَقولُها دائِماً وَتَفعَلُها
Where are the noble deeds for which you are known,
Where are the noble traits known of you?
Which you always proclaim and perform?
You speak of them always yet ignore them.
ياواسِعَO you with a spacious الدارِhome كَيفَhow توسِعُهاyou enlarge it
ياواسِعَ الدارِ كَيفَ توسِعُها
وَنَحنُwhile we فيinside صَخرَةٍa rock نُزَلزِلُهاwe shake it
وَنَحنُ في صَخرَةٍ نُزَلزِلُها
O you with the spacious home, how can you enlarge it,
O vast of abode, how do you expand it
While we are inside a rock, making it tremble?
While we are in a rock we shake?
ياناعِمَO you with a soft الثَوبِrobe كَيفَhow تُبدِلُهُyou change it
ياناعِمَ الثَوبِ كَيفَ تُبدِلُهُ
ثِيابُناour clothes الصوفُwool مانُبَدِّلُهاwe do not change them
ثِيابُنا الصوفُ مانُبَدِّلُها
O wearer of a soft robe, how can you change it,
O wearer of fine robes, how do you change them
While our clothes are wool, and we do not change them?
While our garb is wool we do not change?
ياراكِبَO rider of الخَيلِhorses لَوif بَصُرتَyou saw بِناus
ياراكِبَ الخَيلِ لَو بَصُرتَ بِنا
نَحمِلُwe carry أَقيادُناour fetters وَنَنقُلُهاand we move them
نَحمِلُ أَقيادُنا وَنَنقُلُها
O rider of horses, if you could see us,
O rider of steeds, if you could see us
Bearing our fetters and moving them along,
Bearing our halters, carrying them on our backs.
رَأَيتَyou would see فيin الضُرِّmisery أَوجُهاًfaces كَرُمَتwere noble
رَأَيتَ في الضُرِّ أَوجُهاً كَرُمَت
فارَقَhas parted with فيكَfor your sake الجَمالَbeauty أَجمَلُهاtheir fairest
فارَقَ فيكَ الجَمالَ أَجمَلُها
You would see noble faces in misery;
You saw in ordeal faces that brought you nobility
Their fairest has parted with beauty for your sake.
While the most beautiful of you lost his beauty.
قَدindeed أَثَّرَhas left its mark الدَهرُtime فيon مَحاسِنِهاtheir handsome features
قَد أَثَّرَ الدَهرُ في مَحاسِنِها
تَعرِفُهاyou recognize them تارَةًat times وَتَجهَلُهاand you fail to recognize them
تَعرِفُها تارَةً وَتَجهَلُها
Time has left its mark upon their handsome features;
Time has worn their charms—
You recognize them at times, and at times do not.
You recognize them sometimes and sometimes not.
فَلاso do not تَكِلناentrust us فيهاin this matter إِلىto أَحَدٍanyone
فَلا تَكِلنا فيها إِلى أَحَدٍ
مُعِلُّهاher tormentor مُحسِناًacting kindly يُعَلِّلُهاsoothes her
مُعِلُّها مُحسِناً يُعَلِّلُها
So do not entrust us in this matter to anyone;
So do not leave us reliant in this on anyone
Her tormentor, acting kindly, offers her consolation.
Who excuses it, reforms it, and worsens it.
لايَفتَحُdo not open الناسُpeople بابَa door to مَكرُمَةٍa noble deed
لايَفتَحُ الناسُ بابَ مَكرُمَةٍ
صاحِبُهاits master المُستَغاثُthe one appealed to يُقفِلُهاcloses it
صاحِبُها المُستَغاثُ يُقفِلُها
People do not open the door to a noble deed
Let no one open the door of generosity
While its master, appealed to for help, closes it.
And while its owner implores, bolt it shut.
أَيَنبَريwill they step forward? دونَكَinstead of you الكِرامُnoble men لَهاfor it
أَيَنبَري دونَكَ الكِرامُ لَها
وَأَنتَwhile you قَمقامُهاtheir mighty chief وَأَحمَلُهاand their ablest burden-bearer
وَأَنتَ قَمقامُها وَأَحمَلُها
Will noble men step forward for it instead of you,
Is generosity without you fitting for her
While you are their mighty chief, their greatest bearer of burdens?
When you are its pillar and its bearer?
وَأَنتَand you إِنif عَنَّarises حادِثٌan event جَلَلٌgrave
وَأَنتَ إِن عَنَّ حادِثٌ جَلَلٌ
قُلَّبُهاtheir shrewd strategist المُرتَجىthe hoped-for وَحُوَّلُهاand their resourceful one
قُلَّبُها المُرتَجى وَحُوَّلُها
And you, if a grave event arises,
You, if an immense calamity befalls,
Are their hoped-for master of strategy and resource.
Are its alternative, its transformer.
مِنكَfrom you تَرَدّىhas cloaked himself بِالفَضلِin excellence أَفضَلُهاtheir noblest
مِنكَ تَرَدّى بِالفَضلِ أَفضَلُها
مِنكَfrom you أَفادَhas obtained النَوالَbounty أَنوَلُهاtheir most generous
مِنكَ أَفادَ النَوالَ أَنوَلُها
Their noblest has clothed himself in excellence from you;
From you the greatest obtained excellence,
From you their most generous has received bounty.
From you the attainment of gifts is smoothest.
فَإِنso if سَأَلناwe ask سِواكَsomeone besides you عارِفَةًa favor
فَإِن سَأَلنا سِواكَ عارِفَةً
فَبَعدَthen after قَطعِcutting off الرَجاءِhope نَسأَلُهاwe ask for it
فَبَعدَ قَطعِ الرَجاءِ نَسأَلُها
So if we ask someone besides you for a favor,
If we seek from other than you, knowing
Then only after hope is cut off do we ask for it.
After abandoning hope, we ask of them.
إِذاwhen رَأَيناwe see أولىthe most worthy of الكِرامِthe noble بِهاto undertake it
إِذا رَأَينا أولى الكِرامِ بِها
يُضيعُهاhe squanders it جاهِداًstriving hard وَيُهمِلُهاand he neglects it
يُضيعُها جاهِداً وَيُهمِلُها
When we see the noble man most worthy to undertake it,
When we see the most generous to her
Doing his utmost to squander it, and neglecting it.
Neglect her, disregard her intentionally.
لَمnot يَبقَhas remained فيamong الناسِmankind أُمَّةٌa nation عُرِفَتhas been known
لَم يَبقَ في الناسِ أُمَّةٌ عُرِفَت
إِلّاexcept وَفَضلُand the bounty of الأَميرِthe prince يَشمَلُهاencompasses it
إِلّا وَفَضلُ الأَميرِ يَشمَلُها
No known nation remains among mankind
No tribe of people remains known
Outside the embrace of the prince's bounty.
Except the prince’s nobility embraces it.
نَحنُwe أَحَقُّmost entitled among الوَرىmankind بِرَأفَتِهِto his compassion
نَحنُ أَحَقُّ الوَرى بِرَأفَتِهِ
فَأَينَso where عَنّاaway from us وَأَينَand where مَعدِلُهاits turning aside
فَأَينَ عَنّا وَأَينَ مَعدِلُها
We, of all mankind, most deserve his compassion;
We have the greatest right to his compassion
So where has it gone from us, and where does it turn?
So where, where is its straightener?
يامُنفِقَO spender of المالِwealth لايُريدُhe desires nothing بِهِthrough it
يامُنفِقَ المالِ لايُريدُ بِهِ
إِلّاexcept المَعاليlofty honors الَّتيthat يُؤَثِّلُهاhe firmly establishes them
إِلّا المَعالي الَّتي يُؤَثِّلُها
O spender of wealth, who seeks through it nothing
O spender of wealth, desiring through it
But the lofty honors he firmly establishes—
Only lofty deeds which immortalize it.
أَصبَحتَyou have become تَشريbuying مَكارِماًnoble deeds فُضُلاًoutstanding
أَصبَحتَ تَشري مَكارِماً فُضُلاً
فِداؤُناransoming us قَدindeed عَلِمَتyou know أَفضَلُهاthe best of them
فِداؤُنا قَد عَلِمَت أَفضَلُها
You now buy outstanding noble deeds;
You have begun bestowing generosity and favor
Ransoming us, as you know, is the best of them.
Our ransom—you know—its greatest.
لايَقبَلُdoes not accept اللَهُGod قَبلَbefore فَرضِكَyour obligation ذاthis
لايَقبَلُ اللَهُ قَبلَ فَرضِكَ ذا
نافِلَةًa voluntary offering عِندَهُbefore Him تُنَفِّلُهاyou offer it voluntarily
نافِلَةً عِندَهُ تُنَفِّلُها
God will not accept, before you fulfill this duty,
God accepts no supererogatory act before
Any voluntary offering you make before Him.
An obligatory one which you perform devotedly.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.