1. إن في الألوان أس

    راراً أدراها من شعر

    Indeed, in colors there are se-

    crets that those who feel know best.

  2. فهي للعينين لذات

    كبار وقرر

    For the eyes they offer pleasures,

    great ones, and soothing delights.

  3. وهي في القلب وفي النفس

    لها اجدى أثر

    And in the heart and in the soul

    they have the most beneficial effect.

  4. فليكن منها علاج

    مستديم للبشر

    So let a remedy be drawn from them,

    a lasting one for humankind.

  5. فهي تشفي من هموم

    قاتلات وفكر

    For they cure us of worries

    that kill, and brooding thoughts.

  6. ولكم جاء سقام

    من ملال وضجر

    And how often illness has arisen

    from boredom and vexation!

  7. وهي كالخمرة نح

    سوها ولكن بالنظر

    And they are like wine: we

    sip them, but with our gaze.

  8. تملأ النفس سرو

    راً لا يشاب بكدر

    They fill the soul with glad-

    ness unmingled with distress.

  9. إن من تأثيرها

    كان افتتاني بالصور

    Indeed, among their effects

    was my fascination with pictures,

  10. وامتياز الماس والجوهر

    عن باقي الحجر

    and the distinction of diamonds and gems

    from other stones.

  11. ولها بعض مزا

    يا خفيت عنا أخر

    And they have some other mer-

    its that are hidden from us.

  12. لم نكن لولا اخضرا

    ر النبت نصبو للشجر

    We would not, but for the green-

    ness of plants, long for trees.

  13. ثم لولا بهجة ال

    أزهار لم نهو الزهر

    Then, but for the beauty of the

    flowers, we would not love blossoms.

  14. كم فتنا بنقوش

    فاتنات وغرر

    How often we have been charmed by patterns,

    enchanting ones, and radiant beauties!

  15. لا يرى كل جمال

    ظاهر كل بصر

    Not every beauty

    in plain sight is seen by every eye.

  16. غير أن اللون لو

    لا الضوء ما كان ظهر

    Yet color, were it not

    for light, would never have appeared.

  17. أترى لولا سنا البدر

    ائتنسنا بالقمر

    Do you think, but for the full moon's radiance,

    we would have found comfort in the moon?

  18. لاحظوا ما يعتري

    النفس اذا الليل اعتكر

    Notice what comes over

    the soul when night grows murky,

  19. ثم ما يحدث في النفس

    اذا الضوء انتشر

    then what happens within the soul

    when light spreads.

  20. واشكروا الله الذي

    عن ذاته النور صدر

    And thank God, from whose

    very essence light has issued forth.

  21. فهو نور في السما

    وات وفي الأرض بهر

    For He is light that in the heav-

    ens and on earth has shone resplendent.