أيهاO الشيخُthe sheikh دعوةًa plea منfrom مُحبٍّone who loves
أيها الشيخُ دعوةً من مُحبٍّ
وخليلand a close friend خالfree منof التنكيتmockery
وخليل خال من التنكيت
O old man, an appeal from one who loves you,
O sheikh, a plea from one who loves you,
And a loyal friend, wholly free of jest:
and a close friend free of mockery:
أَنتَyou شيخُan old man وقدand already قَرُبتyou have drawn near منto النَّthe fire (first fragment)
أَنتَ شيخُ وقد قَرُبت من النَّ
ارِfire (remaining fragment) فكيفَso how ادَّهنتَyou have anointed yourself بالكبريتِwith sulfur
ارِ فكيفَ ادَّهنتَ بالكبريتِ
You are an old man, and you have drawn near to the
You are an old man and have already drawn near to
Fire—how, then, did you anoint yourself with brimstone?
the fire—so how have you anointed yourself with sulfur?
