إذا التركيب سميناه باسم

إذا التركيب سميناه باسم

وفيه سواه فهو لنا وتيره

وفيه سواه فهو لنا وتيره

If we give the compound a name,

If we name the structure with a name

Though it contains something else—that is our custom.

And liken it to something else, it is ours and its loss is slight

كما قيل العوالم لاجتماع

كما قيل العوالم لاجتماع

حوت أشياء لا تحصى كثيرة

حوت أشياء لا تحصى كثيرة

Just as “the worlds” was said of a gathering

As it is said worlds exist for the gathering

That contained many things beyond counting.

Of countless, innumerable things

فمن در الرموز على الاسامي

فمن در الرموز على الاسامي

ففيهن الحقيرة والخطيره

ففيهن الحقيرة والخطيره

Among the pearls of symbolism applied to names,

So whoever ponders names and symbols

There are the lowly and the precious:

Will find among them the petty and the momentous

فمن در وياقوت ثمين

فمن در وياقوت ثمين

وأملاح وزاجات حقيره

وأملاح وزاجات حقيره

Among them are pearls and precious rubies,

So whoever ponders gems and treasures

And lowly salts and vitriols.

As well as salts and worthless compounds

سواء سمّي الأخلاط فيه

سواء سمّي الأخلاط فيه

نحاساً أرصاصاً أو شحيره

نحاساً أرصاصاً أو شحيره

Whether the mixtures in it are named

It makes no difference whether the mixtures in it

Copper, kinds of lead, or shaḥīra,

Are called copper, lead or rubbish

فلا تستعظم التدبير واعمل

فلا تستعظم التدبير واعمل

إذا ما كنت منه على بصيره

إذا ما كنت منه على بصيره

So do not deem the processing formidable; set to work

So do not magnify the act of creation but rather work

If you have clear insight into it.

If you have insight into it

يسيرٌ فيه تدبير يسير

يسيرٌ فيه تدبير يسير

بلا تعب مؤوتته يسيره

بلا تعب مؤوتته يسيره

It is easy; the processing involved is slight,

There is little effort in it, its passing being slight

Without toil; its expense is slight.

Without toil, its end is trivial

تكاتم سره الحكماء ضنّاً

تكاتم سره الحكماء ضنّاً

بما علموا وفي الكتمان خيره

بما علموا وفي الكتمان خيره

The sages kept its secret from one another, jealously guarding

The wise conceal its secret unwillingly

What they knew; and in concealment lies its benefit.

Knowing concealment is best though they discerned