حتَّىuntil مَتىwhen تَستفزكَcarry you away الخُدعdeceptions
حتَّى مَتى تَستفزكَ الخُدع
وكمand how often وكمand how often تستقيدكُlead you captive البدعُnovelties
وكم وكم تستقيدكُ البدعُ
How long will deceptions keep carrying you away?
And how often, how often do novelties lead you captive!
تأمُلُyou hope والموتُwhile death وَيحَalas for نفسكَyour soul لاnot
تأمُلُ والموتُ وَيحَ نفسكَ لا
يُبقيspares علىupon آملٍone who hopes ولاnor يدعُleaves alone
يُبقي على آملٍ ولا يدعُ
You hope, while death—alas for your soul!—does not
spare one who hopes, nor leave him be.
ياO شامخاًhaughty one عِزَّةًin pride بمعطسهwith his nose
يا شامخاً عِزَّةً بمعطسه
مَهلاًhold back فأَنفُfor the nose العزيزِof the mighty man يُجتَدَعis cut off
مَهلاً فأَنفُ العزيزِ يُجتَدَع
O you who hold your nose high in pride,
Easy now, for the mighty man's nose is cut off.
لاno عِصمَةٌprotection لِلمَنيعِfor the unassailable مِنfrom قدَرٍfate
لا عِصمَةٌ لِلمَنيعِ مِن قدَرٍ
لمdid not يعتصِمfind refuge مِنهُfrom it أعصَمٌa white-forelegged ibex صَدَعُsturdy
لم يعتصِم مِنهُ أعصَمٌ صَدَعُ
There is no protection for the unassailable against fate,
from which no sturdy ibex with white forelegs has found refuge.