وَحُوشِيَand I shrink أَنthat يُقالَbe said لَهاto them عِتابيmy reproach
وَحُوشِيَ أَن يُقالَ لَها عِتابي
وَمَنand who ذاis there يُسمِعُmakes hear الصُمَّthe deaf الدُعاءَthe plea
وَمَن ذا يُسمِعُ الصُمَّ الدُعاءَ
I shrink from having my reproach spoken to them.
Who can make the deaf hear a plea?
وَهَبكَand suppose you نَسيتَforgot كُلَّevery يَدٍfavor لِقَصديfor my striving
وَهَبكَ نَسيتَ كُلَّ يَدٍ لِقَصدي
عَلىtoward العَلياthe heights فَهَلthen do you تَنسىforget الثَناءَthe praise
عَلى العَليا فَهَل تَنسى الثَناءَ
Suppose you forgot every favor that helped my striving
toward the heights; could you forget the praise?
بَلَغتُI reached بِكَthrough you الثَرىthe earth أَيّامَdays of عَتبٍreproach
بَلَغتُ بِكَ الثَرى أَيّامَ عَتبٍ
وَأَيّامَand days of الرِضاfavor نِلتُI attained السَماءَthe sky
وَأَيّامَ الرِضا نِلتُ السَماءَ
Through you I reached the earth in days of reproach,
and in days of favor I attained the sky.
إِذاif جازَيتَyou repay مُحسِنَةًa kind deed بِحُسنىwith kindness
إِذا جازَيتَ مُحسِنَةً بِحُسنى
فَماthen he does not يَعتَدُّهُcount it إِلّاexcept وَفاءَrepayment
فَما يَعتَدُّهُ إِلّا وَفاءَ
If you repay a kindness with kindness,
he counts it only as repayment.
فَأَينَthen where الفَضلُis generosity يَوماًone day ياO أَباهُmy lord
فَأَينَ الفَضلُ يَوماً يا أَباهُ
إِذاif قالواthey said أَساءَhe did wrong بِمَنto one who أَساءَdid wrong
إِذا قالوا أَساءَ بِمَن أَساءَ
Then where is generosity, my lord,
if people say you answered wrong with wrong?
وَكَمand how often خَلَقَwore out العِذارُthe cheek's first down عَلَيكَfor you حُبّاًlove
وَكَم خَلَقَ العِذارُ عَلَيكَ حُبّاً
وَمِنand from عُجبٍpride بِهِin it سَحَبَhe dragged الرِداءَthe cloak
وَمِن عُجبٍ بِهِ سَحَبَ الرِداءَ
How often the first down upon the cheek has worn out love for you,
and, proud of it, dragged its cloak along.
وَتَملَأُand you fill قَلبَهُhis heart فَيَفيضُso it overflows عَتباًwith reproach
وَتَملَأُ قَلبَهُ فَيَفيضُ عَتباً
كَماjust as قَدindeed يَملَأُmay fill القَطرُthe rain الإِناءَthe vessel
كَما قَد يَملَأُ القَطرُ الإِناءَ
You fill his heart until reproach overflows,
as rain may fill a vessel.
فَإِنthen if عُوِّضتُI am given in exchange مِنfor وَصلٍcloseness صُدوداًavoidance
فَإِن عُوِّضتُ مِن وَصلٍ صُدوداً
وَإِنand if بُدِّلتُI am given instead مِنfor لُطفٍgentleness جَفاءَharshness
وَإِن بُدِّلتُ مِن لُطفٍ جَفاءَ
If I am given avoidance in place of closeness,
and harshness in place of gentleness,
فَلاthen may it not نَسِيَforget النَدىgenerosity لَمّاwhen نَسِيهِhe forgot it
فَلا نَسِيَ النَدى لَمّا نَسِيهِ
بِهِthrough it وَصلاًas a bond وَلاnor قَطَعَcut off النِداءَthe call
بِهِ وَصلاً وَلا قَطَعَ النِداءَ
may generosity never forget him when he forgets it
as a bond, nor cut off its call.
وَيَسمَعُand he hears عاذِليهِthose who blame him بِغَيرِwithout قَلبٍa heart
وَيَسمَعُ عاذِليهِ بِغَيرِ قَلبٍ
وَيَأبىand he refuses فيكُمُconcerning you إِلّاanything but الإِباءَrefusal
وَيَأبى فيكُمُ إِلّا الإِباءَ
He hears those who blame him with an unheeding heart,
and in your case will yield only to refusal.
وَيَنتَظِرُand he awaits التَقاضيpayment لَوif نَظَرتُمyou considered
وَيَنتَظِرُ التَقاضي لَو نَظَرتُم
فَيُخلِفُهُthen it fails him وَيَنتَظِرُand he awaits القَضاءَjudgment
فَيُخلِفُهُ وَيَنتَظِرُ القَضاءَ
He waits for payment, if you would consider him;
it fails him, and he waits for judgment.
تَحَكَّمrule كَيفَhowever شِئتَyou wish بِقَلبِover the heart of عَبدٍa servant
تَحَكَّم كَيفَ شِئتَ بِقَلبِ عَبدٍ
تَحَكَّمَhe gave rule فيover المُنىhis wishes بِكَto you كَيفَas شاءَhe wished
تَحَكَّمَ في المُنى بِكَ كَيفَ شاءَ
Rule as you wish over the heart of a servant
who has let you rule his wishes as you please.
فَلاno, then وَاللَهِby God لاmay they not نَظَرَتlook سِواكُمُat anyone but you
فَلا وَاللَهِ لا نَظَرَت سِواكُمُ
وَإِنeven if فاضَتthey flowed لِعَتبِكُمُat your reproach دِماءَwith blood
وَإِن فاضَت لِعَتبِكُمُ دِماءَ
No, by God, may these eyes never look upon anyone but you,
even if they stream blood at your reproach.
فَإِنthen if يُطلِعbrings forth رِضاكَyour favor عِشايَmy evening صُبحاًas dawn
فَإِن يُطلِع رِضاكَ عِشايَ صُبحاً
فَإِنَّthen indeed السُخطَdispleasure أَطلَعَهُmade it rise عِشاءَas evening
فَإِنَّ السُخطَ أَطلَعَهُ عِشاءَ
If your favor brings dawn to my evening,
your displeasure has made it evening.
وَأُقسِمُand I swear لاnot أَزالُI shall cease لَقَىًcast down إِلىuntil أَنthat
وَأُقسِمُ لا أَزالُ لَقَىً إِلى أَن
يُبيحَgrants اللَهُGod ليto me مِنكُمfrom you لِقاءَa meeting
يُبيحَ اللَهُ لي مِنكُم لِقاءَ
I swear I shall remain cast down until
God grants me a meeting with you.
إِذاwhen اِحتَفَلَgathered النُهىreason فيto forbid نَهيِmy passion's longing determined by context as my ardor? وَجديI shall cease
إِذا اِحتَفَلَ النُهى في نَهيِ وَجدي
أَبىhe refused إِلّاanything but اِنتِهاكاًtransgression لاnot اِنتِهاءَan end
أَبى إِلّا اِنتِهاكاً لا اِنتِهاءَ
When reason gathers to forbid my passion,
it insists on transgression, never an end.
ذَكَرتُI recalled عُلاكُمُyour loftiness فيin كُلِّevery حالٍstate
ذَكَرتُ عُلاكُمُ في كُلِّ حالٍ
وَكُنتُمand you were عِندَهاin it أَعلىhigher عَلاءَin elevation
وَكُنتُم عِندَها أَعلى عَلاءَ
I recalled your lofty rank in every state,
and in each you stood at the greatest height.
فَمَجدُكُمُso your glory إِذاwhen سُحُبٌclouds تَعالَتrose high
فَمَجدُكُمُ إِذا سُحُبٌ تَعالَت
وَبِشرُكُمُand your smile إِذاwhen بَدرٌa full moon تَراءىappeared
وَبِشرُكُمُ إِذا بَدرٌ تَراءى
Your glory is like clouds rising high,
and your smile like a full moon appearing.
وَجودُكُمُand your generosity إِذاwhen غَيثٌrain تَدانىdrew near
وَجودُكُمُ إِذا غَيثٌ تَدانى
وَقَدرُكُمُand your rank إِذاwhen نَجمٌa star تَناءىgrew distant
وَقَدرُكُمُ إِذا نَجمٌ تَناءى
Your generosity is like rain drawing near,
and your rank like a star far away.
وَخَيلُكُمُand your horses إِذاwhen ظُلَمٌdarknesses أَجَنَّتenclosed
وَخَيلُكُمُ إِذا ظُلَمٌ أَجَنَّت
وَنَصرُكُمُand your victory إِذاwhen صُبحٌdawn أَضاءَshone
وَنَصرُكُمُ إِذا صُبحٌ أَضاءَ
Your horses are like darkness closing in,
and your victory like dawn shining.
أَلاbehold لِلَهِby God مِنكَfrom you يَدٌa hand أَفادَتbestowed
أَلا لِلَهِ مِنكَ يَدٌ أَفادَت
عَطاءًa gift سِرُّهُwhose secret أَمسىbecame غِطاءَa veil
عَطاءً سِرُّهُ أَمسى غِطاءَ
What a hand of yours God has bestowed,
giving so much that its secret became a veil.
يُشَبِّهُlikens عُذرُهُhis apology الإِحسانَkindness ذَنباًto a fault
يُشَبِّهُ عُذرُهُ الإِحسانَ ذَنباً
فَماso you cannot تَدريknow أَأَحسَنَdid he do good أَمor أَساءَdo wrong
فَما تَدري أَأَحسَنَ أَم أَساءَ
Its apology makes a kindness seem a fault,
so one cannot tell whether it did good or ill.
وَأَحسَنُand the loveliest مَنظَرٍsight فيon الأَرضِearth عِنديto me
وَأَحسَنُ مَنظَرٍ في الأَرضِ عِندي
تَواضُعُهُhis humility وَقَدthough بَلَغَhe reached السَماءَthe sky
تَواضُعُهُ وَقَد بَلَغَ السَماءَ
The loveliest sight on earth to me
is his humility, though he has reached the sky.
أَلاbehold لِلَهِby God فيكَin you يَمينُa right hand of جودٍgenerosity
أَلا لِلَهِ فيكَ يَمينُ جودٍ
صَحِبناwe experienced صَيفَهاits summer أَبَداًalways شِتاءَas winter
صَحِبنا صَيفَها أَبَداً شِتاءَ
What a generous right hand is yours:
we have known its summer as winter always.
يَسيرُmarches أَمامَهاbefore it جَيشُan army of المَعانيmeanings
يَسيرُ أَمامَها جَيشُ المَعاني
إِذاwhen هَزَّتit waved مِنَfrom القَلَمِthe pen اللِواءَthe banner
إِذا هَزَّت مِنَ القَلَمِ اللِواءَ
An army of meanings marches before it
when it waves the pen like a banner.
وَكَمand how often هَرَبَتfled مَطالِبُناour requests حَياءًout of shame
وَكَم هَرَبَت مَطالِبُنا حَياءً
فَناداهاthen called them نَداهاhis generosity لاno نَجاءَescape
فَناداها نَداها لا نَجاءَ
How often our requests fled out of shame,
but his generosity called them back: there is no escape.
هُوَhe is السَيفُthe sword الَّذيthat مِنهُfrom him اِستَفادَتgained
هُوَ السَيفُ الَّذي مِنهُ اِستَفادَت
سُيوفُthe swords of بَنيthe sons of الوَغىذاكَwar—that المَضاءَsharpness
سُيوفُ بَني الوَغىذاكَ المَضاءَ
He is the sword from which
the swords of warriors learned their sharpness.
وَلَمّاand when أَرخَصَcheapened الأَحرارَfree men دَهرٌan age
وَلَمّا أَرخَصَ الأَحرارَ دَهرٌ
تَغالَتyou valued dearly فيهُمُamong them وَغَلَتand paid dearly شِراءَas purchase
تَغالَت فيهُمُ وَغَلَت شِراءَ
When an age made free men cheap,
you held them dear and paid dearly for them.
فَأَمّاas for نَفعُthe benefit of ذاthis فَأَطالَit prolonged مُكثاًits stay
فَأَمّا نَفعُ ذا فَأَطالَ مُكثاً
وَأَمّاand as for سَيلُthe flood of ذاthat فَمَضىit passed جُفاءَas refuse
وَأَمّا سَيلُ ذا فَمَضى جُفاءَ
As for this one's benefit, it endured,
while that one's flood passed away as refuse.
فَلاso may they not عَدِمواlack الرَخاءَease بِهِthrough him وَأَمّاand as for
فَلا عَدِموا الرَخاءَ بِهِ وَأَمّا
شِراهُhis purchase لَهُمfor them فَلاmay it not عَدِمَlack الغَلاءَa high price
شِراهُ لَهُم فَلا عَدِمَ الغَلاءَ
May they never lack ease through him; and as for
his purchase of them, may it never lose its high price.
وَأَبقىand more lasting ماwhat وَهَبتُI bestowed لَكُمon you بَيانيmy verse
وَأَبقى ما وَهَبتُ لَكُم بَياني
وَكَمand how often ذَهَبَvanished الهِباتُgifts فَناًutterly هَباءَas dust
وَكَم ذَهَبَ الهِباتُ فَناً هَباءَ
The most lasting gift I gave you is my verse,
while so many gifts have vanished into dust.
وَيُعطيand he gives يَومَهُhis day وَغَداًand tomorrow وَأَمساًand yesterday
وَيُعطي يَومَهُ وَغَداً وَأَمساً
وَمَسأَلَةًand upon request وَعَوداًand after a promise وَاِبتِداءَand unprompted
وَمَسأَلَةً وَعَوداً وَاِبتِداءَ
He gives his today, tomorrow, and yesterday,
whether asked, after a promise, or on his own initiative.
يُشَمِّرُhe rolls up his sleeves لِلعُلاfor the heights عَنfrom ساقِa leg of حُرٍّa free man
يُشَمِّرُ لِلعُلا عَن ساقِ حُرٍّ
وَلاand he does not يَثنيfold وِسادَتَهُhis cushion اِتِّكاءَto recline
وَلا يَثني وِسادَتَهُ اِتِّكاءَ
He bares a free man's leg to strive for the heights,
and never folds his cushion to recline.
مَتىwhen كانَwas المَديحُpraise لَكُمfor you كِفاءًsufficient
مَتى كانَ المَديحُ لَكُم كِفاءً
وَمَنand who يَعتَدُّهُcounts it لَكُمُfor you وَفاءَrepayment
وَمَن يَعتَدُّهُ لَكُمُ وَفاءَ
When could praise ever be enough for you?
Who would count it as adequate repayment?
وَكَمand how often أَورَدتَهاyou led them in بيضاًwhite ظِماءًthirsty
وَكَم أَورَدتَها بيضاً ظِماءً
وَكَمand how often أَصدَرتَهاyou brought them out حُمراًred رِواءَsated
وَكَم أَصدَرتَها حُمراً رِواءَ
How often you led them in, white and thirsty,
and brought them out red and sated.
وَكَمand how often أَطلَعتَyou brought forth مِنfrom لَمعٍflashing صَباحاًmorning
وَكَم أَطلَعتَ مِن لَمعٍ صَباحاً
وَكَمand how often أَرجَعتَyou brought back مِنfrom نَقعٍbattle dust عِشاءَevening
وَكَم أَرجَعتَ مِن نَقعٍ عِشاءَ
How often you brought morning out of flashing blades,
and brought evening back from battle dust.
إِلَيكَto you أَزُفُّهاI bring her أَبَهىthe loveliest عَروسٍbride
إِلَيكَ أَزُفُّها أَبَهى عَروسٍ
فَلاso may he not عَدِمَlack البَنينَsons وَلاnor الرِفاءَgood fortune
فَلا عَدِمَ البَنينَ وَلا الرِفاءَ
To you I bring it like the loveliest bride:
may sons and good fortune never fail you.
وَأَينَand where is الدُرُّthe pearl مِنهُbeside it وَهوَwhile it قِدماًlong ago
وَأَينَ الدُرُّ مِنهُ وَهوَ قِدماً
إِذاwhen وَجَدَit found السَناbrightness عَدِمَit lacked السَناءَsplendor
إِذا وَجَدَ السَنا عَدِمَ السَناءَ
What is the pearl beside it? From of old,
when it finds brilliance, it lacks true splendor.
مَلَأتَyou filled يَديmy hand فَدَيتُmay I ransom يَدَيكَyour hands مالاًwith wealth
مَلَأتَ يَدي فَدَيتُ يَدَيكَ مالاً
فَأَصبحَso it became فيin فَميmy mouth إِنif لُمتُI reproach ماءَwater
فَأَصبحَ في فَمي إِن لُمتُ ماءَ
You filled my hands with wealth—may I ransom yours—
so that, if I reproach you, my mouth fills with water.
وَهاand here أَناI قَدhave فَزِعتُfled إِلىto طَبيبٍa physician
وَها أَنا قَد فَزِعتُ إِلى طَبيبٍ
وَجَدتُI found بِهِthrough him عَلىdespite اليَأسِdespair الشِفاءَthe cure
وَجَدتُ بِهِ عَلى اليَأسِ الشِفاءَ
Here I am, having fled to a physician
in whom, despite despair, I found a cure.
أَلاbehold فَلتَعلَمِlet know الأَيّامُthe days أنِّيthat I
أَلا فَلتَعلَمِ الأَيّامُ أنِّي
بلغتُI reached بهthrough him منfrom الأرضthe earth السماءَthe sky
بلغتُ به من الأرض السماءَ
Let the days know
that through him I rose from earth to sky.
ولوand if سقطfell away التفاضلُdistinction فيin عقولٍminds
ولو سقط التفاضلُ في عقولٍ
لَكَانَthen would be الناسُpeople كُلُّهُمُall of them سَواءَequal
لَكَانَ الناسُ كُلُّهُمُ سَواءَ
If distinctions were lost from people's minds,
then all people would be equal.
إذاwhen اِتَّشَحَتwere girded سُيوفُهُمُtheir swords بِأَيدٍby hands
إذا اِتَّشَحَت سُيوفُهُمُ بِأَيدٍ
رَأَيتَyou saw الداءَthe disease قَدalready سَكَنَlodged الدَواءَin the cure
رَأَيتَ الداءَ قَد سَكَنَ الدَواءَ
When their swords are girded on by hands,
you see the disease lodged in the cure.
دَعِleave الكَذِبَينِthe two falsehoods فيin قَولٍspeech وَفِعلٍand deed
دَعِ الكَذِبَينِ في قَولٍ وَفِعلٍ
فَإِنّيfor I قَدindeed رَأَيتُهُماhave found them both سَواءَalike
فَإِنّي قَد رَأَيتُهُما سَواءَ
Leave the two kinds of falsehood, in speech and deed;
I have found them alike.
فَيُسْمَىso is called الكِذبُfalsehood فيin قَولٍspeech مُحالاimpossible
فَيُسْمَى الكِذبُ في قَولٍ مُحالا
وَيُسمَىand is called الكِذبُfalsehood فيin فِعلٍaction رِياءَhypocrisy
وَيُسمَى الكِذبُ في فِعلٍ رِياءَ
Falsehood in speech is called an impossibility,
and falsehood in action is called hypocrisy.
وَلاand do not تَحزَنgrieve لِمَنfor one who أَولاكَgave you حُزناًgrief
وَلا تَحزَن لِمَن أَولاكَ حُزناً
وَلاand do not تَأسَmourn عَلىover خَلقٍa person أَساءَwho did wrong
وَلا تَأسَ عَلى خَلقٍ أَساءَ
Do not grieve for one who has brought you grief,
and do not mourn a person who has done wrong.
وَلاand do not تُتبِعهُfollow him مِنfrom قَلبٍa heart ضِراماًwith fire
وَلا تُتبِعهُ مِن قَلبٍ ضِراماً
وَلاand do not تُتبِعهُfollow him مِنfrom عَينٍan eye بُكاءَwith tears
وَلا تُتبِعهُ مِن عَينٍ بُكاءَ
Do not follow him with fire from your heart,
or follow him with tears from your eyes.
وَلاand do not تَقصُرfix عَلىupon الآثارِthe traces عَيناًan eye
وَلا تَقصُر عَلى الآثارِ عَيناً
بِهاthrough them شَقِيَتit suffered فَتُشبِهَهاso it resembles them عَفاءَerasure
بِها شَقِيَت فَتُشبِهَها عَفاءَ
Do not fix your gaze upon the traces
that have made it suffer, until it resembles their erasure.
وَليand I have نَفسٌa soul وَإِنeven if عَزَّتit lost حَبيباًa loved one
وَلي نَفسٌ وَإِن عَزَّت حَبيباً
مِنَfrom الدُنياthe world فَماyet not عَزَّتit lost عَزاءَconsolation
مِنَ الدُنيا فَما عَزَّت عَزاءَ
I have a soul that, though it has lost a dear one
from this world, has not lost its power of consolation.
وَهَبsuppose أَنّيthat I طَبيبُam a physician of الهَمِّgrief يَبقىit remains
وَهَب أَنّي طَبيبُ الهَمِّ يَبقى
فَكَيفَthen how أَظُنُّcould I suppose أَنthat أَبقىI remain بَقاءَforever
فَكَيفَ أَظُنُّ أَن أَبقى بَقاءَ
Suppose I am a physician of grief: it remains.
How, then, could I suppose that I shall remain forever?
عَرَفتُI have known الدَهرَtime لَيتَwould that العِلمَknowledge جَهلٌwere ignorance
عَرَفتُ الدَهرَ لَيتَ العِلمَ جَهلٌ
فَلاfor it neither يَأساًdespair يُديمُsustains وَلاnor رَخاءَprosperity
فَلا يَأساً يُديمُ وَلا رَخاءَ
I have learned what time is; would that knowledge were ignorance.
It sustains neither despair nor prosperity.
فَلاso do not يَغرُركَdeceive you ماءٌfreshness فيin وُجوهٍfaces
فَلا يَغرُركَ ماءٌ في وُجوهٍ
فَإِنَّfor indeed الرَأيَjudgment ماis what سَكَنَdwells الرُواءَbeneath beauty
فَإِنَّ الرَأيَ ما سَكَنَ الرُواءَ
So do not be deceived by the freshness of faces,
for judgment lies beneath outward beauty.
فَرُبَّfor perhaps صَدىًan echo حَكاهُmistook it السَمعُhearing صَوتاًfor a voice
فَرُبَّ صَدىً حَكاهُ السَمعُ صَوتاً
وَلامِعَةٍand a gleam رَآهاsaw it الطَرفُthe eye ماءَas water
وَلامِعَةٍ رَآها الطَرفُ ماءَ
An echo may be taken by the ear for a voice,
and a gleam by the eye for water.
وَجَدناwe found فيin القَناعَةِcontentment أَيَّwhat great مُلكٍsovereignty
وَجَدنا في القَناعَةِ أَيَّ مُلكٍ
بِهاthrough it الفُقَراءُthe poor توجَدُare found أَغنِياءَrich
بِها الفُقَراءُ توجَدُ أَغنِياءَ
What sovereignty we found in contentment:
through it, the poor are found to be rich.
فَلاso no أَرضٌland شَكَتcomplained of خُطُواتِthe footsteps of رِجليmy foot
فَلا أَرضٌ شَكَت خُطُواتِ رِجلي
رَواحاًgoing out فيin الطِلابِpursuit وَلاnor اِغتِداءَsetting forth early
رَواحاً في الطِلابِ وَلا اِغتِداءَ
No land has complained of my footsteps,
going out or setting forth in pursuit.
وَلاand I do not أَخشىfear مِنَfrom الأَيّامِthe days مَطلاًdelay
وَلا أَخشى مِنَ الأَيّامِ مَطلاً
وَلاand I do not أَرجوhope إِلىfrom الدُنياthe world اِقتِضاءَto collect a debt
وَلا أَرجو إِلى الدُنيا اِقتِضاءَ
I fear no delay from the days,
nor do I seek to collect a debt from the world.
وَإِنّيand I وَالمَطامِعُwhile desires مومِضاتٌare flashing
وَإِنّي وَالمَطامِعُ مومِضاتٌ
بَوارِقُهاtheir flashes لِأَستَحييso that I feel ashamed الحَياءَof shame
بَوارِقُها لِأَستَحيي الحَياءَ
Though desires flash with lightning,
I am ashamed even to feel shame before their flashes.
وَجِئتُand I came مُقَدَّماًforemost فيهِamong them أَخيراًlast
وَجِئتُ مُقَدَّماً فيهِ أَخيراً
وَأَحمىand the bravest of الجَيشِthe army مَنis one who يَمشيwalks وَراءَbehind
وَأَحمى الجَيشِ مَن يَمشي وَراءَ
I came last among them, yet in the foremost place;
the bravest in an army is the one who walks behind.
لِحِفظِto preserve الماءِhonor فيon صَفَحاتِthe pages of وَجهيmy face
لِحِفظِ الماءِ في صَفَحاتِ وَجهي
أُريقُI spill علىupon صَفائِحِهاtheir blades الذَماءَblood
أُريقُ على صَفائِحِها الذَماءَ
To preserve the water of honor on the pages of my face,
I spill blood upon the blades.
أَفادَكit taught you أَنto turn them تُقَلِّبَهاinto hearts again قُلوباًhearts
أَفادَك أَن تُقَلِّبَها قُلوباً
فَلَيتwould that هَوىًpassion وَأَفئِدَةًand hearts هَواءَwere air
فَلَيت هَوىً وَأَفئِدَةً هَواءَ
It taught you to turn them over as hearts;
would that passion and hearts were mere air.
أَرىI see خُرقَlavishness of العَطاياgifts مِنكَfrom you حَزماًas prudence
أَرى خُرقَ العَطايا مِنكَ حَزماً
وَغاياتِand the extremes of التَواضُعِhumility كِبرِياءَas pride
وَغاياتِ التَواضُعِ كِبرِياءَ
I see your lavish giving as sound judgment,
and the furthest reaches of humility as pride.
بَقيتَmay you remain لَناfor us عَلىdespite كَدَرِthe troubles of اللَياليthe nights
بَقيتَ لَنا عَلى كَدَرِ اللَيالي
تُعاطيناoffering us عَلىamid الكَدَرِthe murk الصَفاءِclarity
تُعاطينا عَلى الكَدَرِ الصَفاءِ
May you remain with us amid the night's troubles,
offering us clarity amid its murk.
وَتورِدُناand you bring us عَلىthrough الظلماءِthe darkness بِشراًa cheerful welcome
وَتورِدُنا عَلى الظلماءِ بِشراً
يُبَدِّلُthat changes حَيرَةَthe bewilderment of الأَمَلِhope اِهتِداءَinto guidance
يُبَدِّلُ حَيرَةَ الأَمَلِ اِهتِداءَ
You bring us a cheerful welcome through the darkness
that turns bewildered hope into guidance.
وَأَقلىand I dislike البَذلَgiving فيamid تَرَفٍarrogance أَراهُI see it
وَأَقلى البَذلَ في تَرَفٍ أَراهُ
وَأَهوىand I love المَنعَrefusal فيwith مَلَقٍgracious courtesy عَطاءَas a gift
وَأَهوى المَنعَ في مَلَقٍ عَطاءَ
I dislike giving when I see it joined to arrogance,
and love refusal when gracious courtesy makes it a gift.
تَشيمُyou watch يَمينَهُhis right hand لاماًthe letter lām لِمالٍfor wealth
تَشيمُ يَمينَهُ لاماً لِمالٍ
رَأَتهُthe eye saw it العَينُthe eye فيon الصَفَحاتِthe pages ماءَas water
رَأَتهُ العَينُ في الصَفَحاتِ ماءَ
You watch his right hand trace the letter lām for wealth,
which the eye sees as water upon the pages.
فَلاso may you not be delayed أُخِّرتَin فيanother world أُخرىfor reward conducted? جَزاءًyou look
فَلا أُخِّرتَ في أُخرى جَزاءً
فَماfor I do not أَرضىaccept لَكَfor you الدُنياthis world جَزاءَas reward
فَما أَرضى لَكَ الدُنيا جَزاءَ
May your reward not be delayed to another world:
I cannot be content with this world as your reward.
صَحِبناwe kept company فيin ظِلالِكُمُyour shade قُلوباًwith hearts
صَحِبنا في ظِلالِكُمُ قُلوباً
فَرَغنَthat grew carefree وَأَيدِياًand hands مِنكُمfrom you مِلاءَfilled
فَرَغنَ وَأَيدِياً مِنكُم مِلاءَ
In your shade we kept company with hearts
that grew carefree, and hands you filled.
مَلَكتَyou won سَماًheaven وَأَفئِدَةًand hearts وَأَرضاًand earth
مَلَكتَ سَماً وَأَفئِدَةً وَأَرضاً
دُعاءًthrough prayer أَوor وَلاءًloyalty أَوor ثَناءَpraise
دُعاءً أَو وَلاءً أَو ثَناءَ
You have won heaven, hearts, and earth
through prayer, loyalty, and praise.
وَأَخلَدَكَand made you lasting الثَناءُpraise بِرَغمِdespite دَهرٍtime
وَأَخلَدَكَ الثَناءُ بِرَغمِ دَهرٍ
وَهَذاand this الفَنُّart ماhas not أَلِفَknown الفَناءَperishing
وَهَذا الفَنُّ ما أَلِفَ الفَناءَ
Praise has made you lasting despite time,
and this art has never been accustomed to perish.
كَفاكَsuffices you الإِشتقاقُderivation لَهُfor it دَليلاًas proof
كَفاكَ الإِشتقاقُ لَهُ دَليلاً
إِذاwhen مَدّواthey lengthen الثَرىearth قالواthey say الثَراءَwealth
إِذا مَدّوا الثَرى قالوا الثَراءَ
The derivation of the word is proof enough:
when they lengthen tharā, they say tharāʾ.
وَماand what فَوقَis above التُرابِsoil يُعَدُّis counted مِنهُas part of it
وَما فَوقَ التُرابِ يُعَدُّ مِنهُ
فَلاso do not acquire تَقنَearth الثَرىand acquire وَاِقنَmodesty الحَياءَto keep?
فَلا تَقنَ الثَرى وَاِقنَ الحَياءَ
What lies above the soil is counted as part of it;
so do not acquire mere earth—acquire modesty.
Translation model: Sol 6