يَتَحارَبُwages war الطَبعُthe innate nature الَّذيwhich مُزِجَتwere mingled بِهِwith it
يَتَحارَبُ الطَبعُ الَّذي مُزِجَت بِهِ
مُهَجُthe souls الأَنامِof humankind وَعَقلُهُمand their reason فَيَفُلُّهُso it blunts it
مُهَجُ الأَنامِ وَعَقلُهُم فَيَفُلُّهُ
At war are the instinct with which are mingled
The innate nature with which
the souls of humankind, and their reason; instinct blunts it.
The hearts and minds of people are imbued does battle;
وَيَظَلُّand remains يَنظُرُwatching ماnot سَناهُits radiance بِنافِعٍof any use
وَيَظَلُّ يَنظُرُ ما سَناهُ بِنافِعٍ
كَالشَمسِlike the sun يَستُرُهاconceals it الغَمامُthe cloud وَظِلُّهُand its shadow
كَالشَمسِ يَستُرُها الغَمامُ وَظِلُّهُ
And reason keeps watch, its radiance of no use,
And it continues looking to see what benefits it has wrought,
like the sun, hidden by cloud and its shadow.
Like the sun obscured by clouds, yet its light shines through.
وَحَتّىand until إِذاwhen حَضَرَarrives الحِمامُdeath تَبَيَّنواthey realize
وَحَتّى إِذا حَضَرَ الحِمامُ تَبَيَّنوا
أَنَّthat الَّذيwhat فَعَلوهُthey did it جَهلٌignorance كُلُّهُall of it
أَنَّ الَّذي فَعَلوهُ جَهلٌ كُلُّهُ
And only when death arrives do they realize
Until when war arrives, they realize
that what they did was ignorance, all of it.
That all they had done was utter ignorance.
وَالعَقلُand reason فيin مَعنىthe meaning العِقالِof the tether وَلَفظِهِand its wording
وَالعَقلُ في مَعنى العِقالِ وَلَفظِهِ
فَالخَيرُfor goodness يَعقِلُbinds وَالسَفاهُand folly يَحُلُّهُundoes it
فَالخَيرُ يَعقِلُ وَالسَفاهُ يَحُلُّهُ
Reason is akin to a tether in meaning and wording;
Reason, in meaning and word, is to resist;
for goodness binds, while folly unbinds it.
So good is reasonable, but folly makes all forget.
وَتَغَرُّبُand wandering abroad الشِرّيرِof the wicked man يوجَبُbrings about حَتفَهُhis death
وَتَغَرُّبُ الشِرّيرِ يوجَبُ حَتفَهُ
مِثلُlike الوِجارِthe burrow إِذاwhen تَسَحَّبَslithers out صِلُّهُits viper
مِثلُ الوِجارِ إِذا تَسَحَّبَ صِلُّهُ
The wicked man's wandering abroad brings his death,
And an evildoer's exile brings about his demise,
like a burrow when its viper slithers out.
Like a neighbor whose tether rope is severed.
وَلُزومُهُand his keeping to الأَوطانَthe homelands أَبقىpreserves longer لِلرَدىfor ruin
وَلُزومُهُ الأَوطانَ أَبقى لِلرَدى
كَالسَيِّدِlike the wolf يُستَرُis concealed فيin الضَرّاءِthe thicket أَزَلُّهُits lean-hipped one
كَالسَيِّدِ يُستَرُ في الضَرّاءِ أَزَلُّهُ
And keeping to his homeland preserves him longer for ruin,
While staying put in one's homeland is better if ruin comes,
like the lean-hipped wolf hidden in the thicket.
Like a master whose lowliness is concealed in hardship.
وَالنَفسُand the soul آلِفَةُis fond of الحَياةِlife فَدَمعُهاso its tears
وَالنَفسُ آلِفَةُ الحَياةِ فَدَمعُها
يَجريflows لِذِكرِat the mention of فِراقِهاparting from it مُنهَلُّهُits pouring flow
يَجري لِذِكرِ فِراقِها مُنهَلُّهُ
The soul is fond of life, so its tears
The soul is accustomed to life, so its tears
flow in torrents at the mention of parting from it.
Flow in remembrance of parting with it, pouring forth.
ماno خُلَّةٌcompanion بِأَغَرَّmore beguiling مِنهاthan it وَالفَتىand the young man
ما خُلَّةٌ بِأَغَرَّ مِنها وَالفَتى
يَبكيweeps إِذاwhen رَكِبَembarks upon الصَريمَةَa resolve to part خِلُّهُhis friend
يَبكي إِذا رَكِبَ الصَريمَةَ خِلُّهُ
No companion is more beguiling than life; and a young man
No dearer thing than it, and the young man
weeps when his friend resolves to part.
Weeps when he mounts his steed, his intimate friend.
لاnot تُحجَزُare held back الأَقدارُdestiny's decrees وَهيَand they كَثيرَةٌare many
لا تُحجَزُ الأَقدارُ وَهيَ كَثيرَةٌ
كَالغَيثِlike rain وابِلُهُits downpour يَصوبُfalls وَطَلُّهُand its drizzle
كَالغَيثِ وابِلُهُ يَصوبُ وَطَلُّهُ
Destiny's decrees cannot be held back, and they are many,
Fates cannot be held back, and they are many,
like rain: its downpour falls, and so does its drizzle.
Like pouring rain, aiming its flow and surge.
وَمِنَand among الجُنودِthe troops عَلىagainst الكَمِيِّthe armored warrior جَوادُهُhis steed
وَمِنَ الجُنودِ عَلى الكَمِيِّ جَوادُهُ
وَحُسامُهُand his keen sword وَسِنانُهُand his spearhead وَمِتَلُّهُand his stout lance
وَحُسامُهُ وَسِنانُهُ وَمِتَلُّهُ
Among the troops arrayed against the armored warrior are his steed,
And of soldiers, his fine horse, sword and spear
his keen sword, his spearhead, and his stout lance.
Distinguish, when clouds mass and the lightning flashes,
مَيِّزdiscern إِذاwhen اِنكَلَّsmiles الغَمامُthe cloud وَميضَهُits flash
مَيِّز إِذا اِنكَلَّ الغَمامُ وَميضَهُ
فَالبَرقُfor lightning يُخبِرُtells أَينَwhere يَسقُطُfalls كُلُّهُall of it
فَالبَرقُ يُخبِرُ أَينَ يَسقُطُ كُلُّهُ
Discern the cloud's flash when it smiles,
Where each bolt will strike and fall.
for lightning tells where all of it will fall.
And I have known, so I do not grieve for what is gone,
وَلَقَدand indeed عَلِمتُI have learned فَماso not أَسِفتُI grieved لِفائِتٍfor anything lost
وَلَقَد عَلِمتُ فَما أَسِفتُ لِفائِتٍ
أَنَّthat البَقِيَّةَthe remainder مِنof مَدايَmy lifespan أَقَلُّهُits smaller part
أَنَّ البَقِيَّةَ مِن مَدايَ أَقَلُّهُ
And I have learned—so I grieve for nothing lost—
That what remains of my days is lesser.
that the remainder of my lifespan is its smaller part.
The righteous seek lawful means, but I have not found
وَالبَرُّand the righteous man يَلتَمِسُseeks الحَلالَwhat is lawful وَلَمyet not أَجِدI have found
وَالبَرُّ يَلتَمِسُ الحَلالَ وَلَم أَجِد
هَذاthis الوَرىhumankind إِلّاexcept فَقيداًbereft حِلُّهُwhat is lawful in it
هَذا الوَرى إِلّا فَقيداً حِلُّهُ
The righteous man seeks what is lawful; yet I have found
In this abode except fettered, its solution little.
these people only bereft of lawful gain.
He sleeps, tired of survival, and wakes
يُمسيhe reaches evening وَقَدand already مَلَّgrown weary of البَقاءَliving on وَيَغتَديand reaches morning
يُمسي وَقَد مَلَّ البَقاءَ وَيَغتَدي
وَلَهُand he has رَجاءٌhope فيهِin it لَيسَdoes not يَمَلُّهُtire of it
وَلَهُ رَجاءٌ فيهِ لَيسَ يَمَلُّهُ
He comes to evening weary of living, and to morning
With hope in it still, not tired of that hope.
with a hope in life of which he never tires.
So guard your brother, and if it becomes clear
فَاِحفَظso cherish أَخاكَyour brother وَإِنand even if تَبَيَّنَbecomes clear أَنَّهُthat he
فَاِحفَظ أَخاكَ وَإِن تَبَيَّنَ أَنَّهُ
باليworn-out in الوَدادِaffection ضَعيفُهُweak in it مُختَلُّهُflawed in it
بالي الوَدادِ ضَعيفُهُ مُختَلُّهُ
So cherish your brother, even if it becomes clear that he
That his love is weak, defective and wavering,
has affection grown threadbare, weak, and flawed.
The scabbard shudders upon meeting the blade,
فَالغِمدُfor the scabbard يُذعَرُstrikes fear فيin اللِقاءِbattle كَهامُهُits blunt blade
فَالغِمدُ يُذعَرُ في اللِقاءِ كَهامُهُ
وَالسَيفُand the sword لَمhas not يُبدِrevealed الخَبيثَةَthe ugly flaw سَلُّهُits unsheathing
وَالسَيفُ لَم يُبدِ الخَبيثَةَ سَلُّهُ
For even a blunt blade, sheathed, strikes fear in battle,
Yet the sword has not revealed its wicked traits.
while drawing the sword has not exposed its ugly flaw.
And cold suffices you from hostile eyes,
وَالبُردُand the cloak يَكفيكَshields you from العُيونَeyes دَريسُهُits worn-out one
وَالبُردُ يَكفيكَ العُيونَ دَريسُهُ
وَالعُضوُand the limb يَنفَعُis useful فيin الخُطوبِcalamities أَشَلُّهُits paralyzed one
وَالعُضوُ يَنفَعُ في الخُطوبِ أَشَلُّهُ
And a cloak, though worn, shields you from eyes;
While the paralyzed limb benefits in trials.
a limb, though paralyzed, helps in calamities.
And life — the wise man knows not which is better:
وَالعُمرُand life لاnot يَدريknows الحَكيمُthe wise man أَكُثرُهُwhether more of it
وَالعُمرُ لا يَدري الحَكيمُ أَكُثرُهُ
خَيرٌis better لَهُfor him مُتَغَبِّراًremaining أَمor قُلُّهُless of it
خَيرٌ لَهُ مُتَغَبِّراً أَم قُلُّهُ
As for life, the wise man knows not whether more of it
More of it threadbare, or less but sound.
left to come is better for him, or less.
Do not mock the old man; how many a night
لاdo not تَهزَأَنever scoff بِالشَيخِat the old man كَمhow many مِنof لَيلَةٍa night
لا تَهزَأَن بِالشَيخِ كَم مِن لَيلَةٍ
جازَتpassed بِهِover him كَالبَدرِlike the full moon يَحسُنُis beautiful دَلُّهُhis graceful bearing
جازَت بِهِ كَالبَدرِ يَحسُنُ دَلُّهُ
Do not scoff at the old man: how many a night
Passed with him like the full moon, his waning beautiful.
passed over him, his bearing beautiful as the full moon,
Days whose cover is torn in idleness,
أَيّامَin the days يُهتَكُis torn فيin البَطالَةِidle folly سِترُهُhis veil
أَيّامَ يُهتَكُ في البَطالَةِ سِترُهُ
كَالطَرفِlike the noble steed مُزِّقَwas torn فيin التَمَرُّحِfrolicking جُلُّهُits horsecloth
كَالطَرفِ مُزِّقَ في التَمَرُّحِ جُلُّهُ
in days when his veil was rent through idle folly,
Like an eyelid ripped in excessive play.
like a steed whose blanket was torn as it frolicked.
The worst of times is when an old companion ages
شَرُّthe worst الزَمانِof times زَمانُthe time أَشيَبَa gray-haired man دالِفٍshuffling along
شَرُّ الزَمانِ زَمانُ أَشيَبَ دالِفٍ
وَصِباهُand his youth أَنفَسُthe most precious وَقتِهِof his time وَأَجَلُّهُand its noblest
وَصِباهُ أَنفَسُ وَقتِهِ وَأَجَلُّهُ
The worst time is that of a gray-haired, shuffling man;
And his youth is the sweetest time and most precious.
his youth was his most precious and noblest time.
Why do I not make my advice understood by listeners,
ماwhat ليis with me أَيَفهَمُdo they understand? سامِعِيَّmy listeners نَصيحَتيmy counsel
ما لي أَيَفهَمُ سامِعِيَّ نَصيحَتي
فَأَبيتُso I spend the night أَنهَلُI give a first draught مُصغِياًan attentive listener وَأَعُلُّهُand I give him another draught
فَأَبيتُ أَنهَلُ مُصغِياً وَأَعُلُّهُ
What ails me? Do my listeners understand my counsel,
And refrain from dictating it, making it clearest?
that I spend the night giving an attentive listener draught after draught?
Time runs its course with the rider undeterred,
يَجريruns بِفارِسِهِwith its rider الطِمِرُّthe fleet steed مُؤَجَّلاًgranted a term
يَجري بِفارِسِهِ الطِمِرُّ مُؤَجَّلاً
وَإِذاand when اِنقَضىexpires أَجَلٌan allotted term فَلَيسَthen it does not يُقِلُّهُcarry him
وَإِذا اِنقَضى أَجَلٌ فَلَيسَ يُقِلُّهُ
The fleet steed runs with its rider while he is granted time;
And when a life span ends, nothing diminishes it.
but when his term expires, it can no longer carry him.
Poverty is an unbroken colt climbed by its calamities,
وَالفَقرُand poverty بَكرٌa young camel تَرتَقيهِclimb it شَذاتُهُits gadflies
وَالفَقرُ بَكرٌ تَرتَقيهِ شَذاتُهُ
وَاليُسرُand prosperity عَودٌan old camel ماnot تَسَوَّرَhas scaled عَلُّهُits tick
وَاليُسرُ عَودٌ ما تَسَوَّرَ عَلُّهُ
Poverty is a young camel that its gadflies climb;
While ease is a trained horse, none can mount it.
prosperity is an old camel that its tick has never scaled.
I survive a first month, then expire in it,
أَجتابُI traverse شَهراًa month أَوَّلاًa first one فَأُبيدُهُthen I use it up
أَجتابُ شَهراً أَوَّلاً فَأُبيدُهُ
وَيَجيءُand comes ثانٍa second بَعدَهُafter it فَأُهِلُّهُthen I hail its new moon
وَيَجيءُ ثانٍ بَعدَهُ فَأُهِلُّهُ
I pass through a first month and use it up;
And a second comes after it, which I welcome.
a second comes after it, and I hail its new moon.
I sleep on the verge of death, my heels exposed,
يُمسيcomes to evening عَلىon حَدِّthe edge المُهَنَّدِof the Indian sword أَخمَصيmy foot's arch
يُمسي عَلى حَدِّ المُهَنَّدِ أَخمَصي
فَتَرىso you see اليَسيرَthe trifling thing مَنwhat مِنَamong الأُمورِaffairs يُزِلُّهُmakes it slip
فَتَرى اليَسيرَ مَن مِنَ الأُمورِ يُزِلُّهُ
By evening my foot's arch rests on an Indian sword's edge,
So you see even slight affairs can fell him.
so you see how a trifling matter can make it slip.
People are set on a misguided path, rightly-guided,
وَالناسُand people جائِرُone astray مَسلَكٍin his course مُستَرشِدٌseeking guidance
وَالناسُ جائِرُ مَسلَكٍ مُستَرشِدٌ
وَأَخٌand a brother عَلىalong غَيرِother than الطَريقِthe road يَدُلُّهُguides him
وَأَخٌ عَلى غَيرِ الطَريقِ يَدُلُّهُ
People are a wanderer off course, seeking guidance,
And a brother leads them down the wrong way.
and a brother guiding him away from the road.
Partial English translation: 53 of 54 Arabic lines translated.