اعملwork بجدّwith diligence وجَلَدand endurance
اعمل بجدّ وجَلَد
فإنّfor indeed منwhoever جَدّstrives diligently وجدsucceeds
فإنّ من جَدّ وجد
Work with diligence and endurance,
Work hard and with patience
for whoever strives succeeds.
For he who perseveres will attain
وحمّرand redden الروحthe spirit وبَيّضand whiten
وحمّر الروح وبَيّض
بالتصاعيدthrough sublimations الجسدthe body
بالتصاعيد الجسد
And redden the spirit, and whiten
Revive the soul and whiten
the body through sublimations.
The body with ascents
وحكمand perfect التزويجthe pairing فالfor the …
وحكم التزويج فال
خلطmixing هوis الأمرthe task الأشدthe most difficult
خلط هو الأمر الأشد
And perfect the pairing, for the
And the ruling of marriage so
mixing is the most difficult task.
Mixing is the most difficult matter
واسبكand smelt بلينwith gentleness النارof the fire فالfor the …
واسبك بلين النار فال
خلطmixture إذاwhen ذابit melts همدit grows still
خلط إذا ذاب همد
And smelt with gentle fire, for the
And flow with the softness of fire so
mixture, once melted, grows still.
When melted, blending calms
وكلماand all that حللتهyou have dissolved it
وكلما حللته
منfrom جسدa body فقدthen indeed عقدhas been coagulated
من جسد فقد عقد
And all that you have dissolved
And the more you analyze it
from a body has been coagulated.
From a body, the more entangled
وإنand if جهلتyou do not know الوزنthe weight فاعthen [refine …?] (uncertain split word)
وإن جهلت الوزن فاع
دنه… it (completes the uncertain imperative) ففيfor in العجنkneading الرشدsound guidance
دنه ففي العجن الرشد
And if you do not know the weight, then [refine
And if you don't know the meter, then return
it?]; in kneading lies sound guidance.
To the dough for guidance
وكنand be خبيراًexpert بالأداwith the instru- (split word)
وكن خبيراً بالأدا
ة-ment (completes the preceding word) والسدادand the sealing والمددand the durations
ة والسداد والمدد
And be expert with the instru-
And be an expert in the instru
ment, the sealing, and the durations.
ment, integrity and assistance
وحجرand the stone الصنعةof the craft فاعthen know … (split word)
وحجر الصنعة فاع
رفه… it (completes the preceding word) فقدfor indeed نلتyou have attained الأمدthe goal
رفه فقد نلت الأمد
And the stone of the craft—know
And learn the craft, so you
it, for you have attained the goal.
Will attain the hoped
فقدfor indeed كشفناwe have revealed لكto you ماwhat
فقد كشفنا لك ما
لمnot (negates the past) يبدهdisclose it قطّever أحدanyone
لم يبده قطّ أحد
For we have revealed to you what
For we have revealed to you what
no one has ever disclosed.
No one has ever expressed