مُسَدَّدُsound الرَأيِin judgment إِنif تَلحَظbehold مَكايِدَهُhis stratagems
مُسَدَّدُ الرَأيِ إِن تَلحَظ مَكايِدَهُ
مَكايِدُthe wiles الدَهرِof Time لَمnot تَثبُتstand firm لَهاfor them قَدَمُa foot
مَكايِدُ الدَهرِ لَم تَثبُت لَها قَدَمُ
Sound in judgment—if you observe his stratagems,
He is sound in judgment: should his stratagems be seen
Fate’s stratagems have never found a foothold.
by Time's wiles, those wiles could not keep their footing.
لاnot يَعرِفُhe knows العَفوَpardon إِلّاexcept بَعدَafter مَقدِرَةٍpower
لا يَعرِفُ العَفوَ إِلّا بَعدَ مَقدِرَةٍ
وَلاand not يُعاقِبُhe punishes حَتّىuntil تَنجَليbecome clear التُهَمُthe accusations
وَلا يُعاقِبُ حَتّى تَنجَلي التُهَمُ
He knows forgiveness only when he has the power to punish,
He knows pardon only after attaining power,
nor does he punish until the charges become clear.
and does not punish until the accusations become clear.
