قَد تَجِرَت عَقرَبُ في سوقِنا

قَد تَجِرَت عَقرَبُ في سوقِنا

يا عَجَباً لِلعَقرَبِ التاجِرَه

يا عَجَباً لِلعَقرَبِ التاجِرَه

'Aqrab, the Scorpion, has traded in our market.

The scorpion prowled in our marketplace

Oh, what a marvel—the trading scorpion!

How strange is this trading scorpion

قَد صافَتِ العَقرَبُ وَاِستَيقَنَت

قَد صافَتِ العَقرَبُ وَاِستَيقَنَت

أَن ما لَها دُنيا وَلا آخِرَه

أَن ما لَها دُنيا وَلا آخِرَه

The scorpion has turned aside and become certain

The scorpion assessed and became certain

that it has neither this world nor the hereafter.

That it has no worldly life nor afterlife

فَإِن تَعُد عادَت لِما ساءَها

فَإِن تَعُد عادَت لِما ساءَها

وَكانَتِ النَعلُ لَها حاضِرَه

وَكانَتِ النَعلُ لَها حاضِرَه

So if it returns, it will return to what hurt it,

If it goes back, it returns to what displeased it

and the sandal will be ready for it.

And it had shoes ready at hand

إِنَّ عَدُوّاً كَيدُهُ في إِستِهِ

إِنَّ عَدُوّاً كَيدُهُ في إِستِهِ

لَغَيرُ ذي كَيدٍ وَلا نائِرَه

لَغَيرُ ذي كَيدٍ وَلا نائِرَه

Indeed, an enemy whose cunning lies in its anus

An enemy's plot is in its sting

surely has neither cunning nor fury.

Not of one who plots or lights fire

كَلُّ عَدُوٍّ يُتَّقى مُقبِلاً

كَلُّ عَدُوٍّ يُتَّقى مُقبِلاً

وَعَقرَبٌ تُخشى مِنَ الدابِرَه

وَعَقرَبٌ تُخشى مِنَ الدابِرَه

Every enemy is guarded against as it approaches,

Every incoming enemy is feared

but a scorpion is feared from behind.

And a scorpion is dreaded when it turns its back

كَأَنَّها إِذ خَرَجَت هَودَجٌ

كَأَنَّها إِذ خَرَجَت هَودَجٌ

شَدَّت قُواهُ رَفعَةٌ باكِرَه

شَدَّت قُواهُ رَفعَةٌ باكِرَه

As it emerged, it was like a howdah

As if when it went out in its container

whose cords an early hoisting had pulled taut.

It tightened its strength, rising early