هاجرHagar أَمناour mother وَلودfruitful رَؤومtenderhearted
هاجر أَمنا وَلود رَؤوم
لاnot حَسودenvious وَلاnor عَجوزan old woman عَقيمbarren
لا حَسود وَلا عَجوز عَقيم
Hagar, our mother, is fruitful and tenderhearted.
Hagar, a merciful mother though barren and aged,
Neither envious nor a barren old woman.
Hagar from whom came the noble Arab and the honored prophet.
هاجرHagar أمناour mother وَمنهاand from her أَبوfather of العرthe Ar-
هاجر أمنا وَمنها أَبو العر
ب-abs وَمِنهاand from her ذاكَthat النَبيthe Prophet الكَريمnoble
ب وَمِنها ذاكَ النَبي الكَريم
Hagar is our mother; from her came the father of
A lineage unsoiled, untouched by Babylon's iniquity, O ignoble foundling!
The Arabs, and from her came that noble Prophet.
The blood in our veins remains unweakened by Pharaoh's whip and painful torture.
نَسبa lineage لَمnot يَضعbe lost وَلاnor مزقتهtore it apart
نَسب لَم يَضع وَلا مزقته
بابلBabylon أَيُّهاO اللقيطfoundling اللَئيمvile
بابل أَيُّها اللقيط اللَئيم
A lineage never lost, nor torn apart by
History knows which pyramids of Egypt are inscribed in its rocks,
Babylon, you vile foundling.
Pyramids in whose shade lies servitude to you with no remorse.
وَدُمand blood فيin عُروقناour veins لَمnot يُرقهshed it
وَدُم في عُروقنا لَم يُرقه
سَوطthe whip of فَرعونPharaoh وَالعَذابand torment الأَليمagonizing
سَوط فَرعون وَالعَذاب الأَليم
And blood in our veins, never shed by
O rabbis, veil your faces lest your broken noses be seen.
Pharaoh's whip or agonizing torment.
Tell me, Jew, from whom did you learn the Torah? Has learning passed you by?
يَعلمknows الدَهرtime أَيّwhich of أهرامthe pyramids of مصرٍEgypt
يَعلم الدَهر أَيّ أهرام مصرٍ
ذَلّكمyour humiliation فيin صُخورهits rocks مَرقومinscribed
ذَلّكم في صُخوره مَرقوم
Time knows which of Egypt's pyramids
Among its pages much is hidden from you, its disgraceful beginning and end.
Bears your humiliation inscribed in its rocks.
Your father sold Joseph. Love of money in you is an ancient trait.
هَرمa pyramid خالدeverlasting يَغشّيهcovers it ظلa shadow
هَرم خالد يَغشّيه ظل
مِنof عُبوديةbondage لَكُمfor you لاnot تَريمdeparts
مِن عُبودية لَكُم لا تَريم
An everlasting pyramid, shrouded by a shadow
You rejected God's blessings until Moses, the determined, was sorely tried by your disbelief.
Of bondage that never leaves you.
The wilderness bore witness that you, the Israelites, were sinful people from the start.
أيO رئوبينReuben غطِّcover وَجهكyour face حَتّىso that
أي رئوبين غطِّ وَجهك حَتّى
لاnot يُرىis seen الأَنفthe nose أَنهُthat it is مَهشومsmashed
لا يُرى الأَنف أَنهُ مَهشوم
O Reuben, cover your face so
The golden calf bears witness that the tablets were smashed the day you went astray.
No one sees that your nose is smashed.
History's secrets harbor the strange and wondrous markings of your shame.
يَاO يَهوديُّJew كَيفَhow علمكyour knowledge بالتوof the To-
يَا يَهوديُّ كَيفَ علمك بالتو
راة-rah قُلsay ليto me أَمor فاتَكَpassed you by التَعليمinstruction
راة قُل لي أَم فاتَكَ التَعليم
O Jew, how well do you know the
O rabbis, where are Moses' tablets and commandments, all so upright?
Torah? Tell me—or did instruction pass you by?
The ten decrees you rejected totally while straying confused in the wilderness.
بَينَamong أَسفارهاits books خَلائقcharacter traits عَنكُمabout you
بَينَ أَسفارها خَلائق عَنكُم
مبتداهاtheir beginning وَمُنتهاهاand their end ذَميمblameworthy
مبتداها وَمُنتهاها ذَميم
In its books are traits of yours,
You broke their rules so that money became your god, filling his place.
Their beginning and their end are blameworthy.
Usurious gain is your idol, forever grasping and covetous.
يوسفJoseph باعَهُsold him أَبوكمyour father يَهوذاJudah
يوسف باعَهُ أَبوكم يَهوذا
إِنَّindeed حُبlove of الدينارthe dinar فيكُمamong you قَديمage-old
إِنَّ حُب الدينار فيكُم قَديم
Your father Judah sold Joseph;
The Sabbath to you means plotting and deceit. Where is its sanctity and glorification?
Indeed, love of the dinar is age-old among you.
You distorted its verses so that murder was sanctioned and moral corruption spread among you.
وَكَفرتمand you were ungrateful بِنعمةfor the favor of اللَهGod حَتّىuntil
وَكَفرتم بِنعمة اللَه حَتّى
ضاقَgrew constrained ذَرعاًin forbearance بِالكفرwith unbelief موسىMoses الكَليمGod's interlocutor
ضاقَ ذَرعاً بِالكفر موسى الكَليم
And you were ungrateful for God's favor, until
In your ignorance, you denied the rights of your neighbor, crying, "Our rights are violated!"
Moses, God's interlocutor, could no longer bear the unbelief.
All of you bear false witness; has any prohibition concerning this come to you?
شهدbore witness التيهthe wilderness أَنَكمthat you are شَعبthe people of إِسراIsra-
شهد التيه أَنَكم شَعب إِسرا
ئيلَ-el شَعبٌa people مُنذُsince الخُروجthe Exodus أَثيمsinful
ئيلَ شَعبٌ مُنذُ الخُروج أَثيم
The wilderness bore witness that you, the people of
May God not bless you! Surely a determined devil leads you astray.
Israel, are a people sinful since the Exodus.
If the stars themselves turned to stones and cast them down on you, by God, such would be your just punishment.
يَشهدbears witness العجلthe calf أَنthat أَلواحthe tablets of موسىMoses
يَشهد العجل أَن أَلواح موسى
يَومthe day زغتمyou went astray أَصابَهاbefell them التَحطيمshattering
يَوم زغتم أَصابَها التَحطيم
The calf bears witness that Moses' tablets
O rabbi, what people do you summon? Surely a wise Lord has destroyed them.
Were shattered the day you went astray.
O rabbi, have you read Shakespeare? Yes, you are an ill-omened poet.
وَبُطونand the depths of التاريخhistory فيهاin them عَجيبwondrous things
وَبُطون التاريخ فيها عَجيب
وَغَريبand strange things بعاركمwith your shame موسومbranded
وَغَريب بعاركم موسوم
And history's depths hold wondrous things
Yet immortal Shakespeare exposed your people's deeds - that is widely known.
And strange things branded with your shame.
But those of you who are Shakespeares have forgotten what that great one said.
أَيO رئوبينReuben أَينَwhere أَلواحthe tablets of موسىMoses
أَي رئوبين أَينَ أَلواح موسى
وَالوَصاياand the commandments فَكلهنfor every one of them قَويمupright
وَالوَصايا فَكلهن قَويم
O Reuben, where are Moses' tablets
O Jew, have you heard of a people scattered aimlessly through every land?
And the commandments? For each of them is upright.
Your people are like insects swarming filthily everywhere.
هُنthey عشرten نبذتموهاyou cast them aside جَميعاًall
هُن عشر نبذتموها جَميعاً
وَرتعتمand you reveled فيin الغَيwaywardness وَهُوَand it is وَخيمruinous
وَرتعتم في الغَي وَهُوَ وَخيم
They are ten; you cast them all aside,
How strange that the judged should seek judgment, their fate sealed!
And reveled in waywardness, though it is ruinous.
How odd that the dispersed should seek unity, their diaspora ordained!
وَنَقَضتُمand you broke أَحكامهاtheir ordinances فَإِذاthen behold الماmon-
وَنَقَضتُم أَحكامها فَإِذا الما
ل-ey مَقامin the place of الإِلَهGod فيكُمamong you يَقومstands
ل مَقام الإِلَه فيكُم يَقوم
And you broke their ordinances; behold, money
God's wrath still rages against you while Balfour's promise lies broken.
Takes God's place among you.
Summon your heroes hiding behind shutters - are they not apes?
وَالرباand usury رَبكمyour lord لَهُfor it صَنَمan idol of الحرgree-
وَالربا رَبكم لَهُ صَنَم الحر
ص-d مِثالٌan image أَنتُمyou عَلَيهِover it جثومcrouching
ص مِثالٌ أَنتُم عَلَيهِ جثوم
And usury is your lord; the idol of
They watch our children craftily. If the little ones come close, the "heroes" shoot them dead, utterly ruthless.
Greed is its image; you crouch over it.
In their hands, the arms of a people on which a lion lies emblazoned.
وَإِذاand behold السبتthe Sabbath فيهin it مكرdeceit وَغدرand treachery
وَإِذا السبت فيه مكر وَغدر
أَينwhere فيهِin it التَقديسsanctification وَالتَعظيمand reverence
أَين فيهِ التَقديس وَالتَعظيم
And behold, the Sabbath holds deceit and treachery;
Call them to bombard and scream, "O defenseless, oppressed people of Zion!"
Where in it are sanctification and reverence?
Curse the English but don't deny their favor - that would be ungracious.
وَعَكستمand you inverted آياتهاits verses فَإِذاthen behold القَتkill-
وَعَكستم آياتها فَإِذا القَت
ل-ing مُباحpermitted وَالفسقُand immorality فيكُمamong you عَميمwidespread
ل مُباح وَالفسقُ فيكُم عَميم
And you inverted its verses; behold, killing
The milk of the land has turned to venom and blood. Attack her! Stand your ground!
Is permitted, and immorality is rife among you.
Drink your fill, for this is how ravenous wolves lap their drink.
فَجَهلتمso you ignored حَقthe right of الجوارneighborliness وَصحتمand you cried out
فَجَهلتم حَق الجوار وَصحتم
أَيُّهاO الناسpeople حقناour right مَهضومdenied
أَيُّها الناس حقنا مَهضوم
So you ignored the rights of neighbors and cried:
O Jew, may you know no peace, and if you wish, no rest either.
O people, our right is denied!
كُلكمall of you شاهدa witness عَلىagainst الحَقthe truth زوراًfalsely
كُلكم شاهد عَلى الحَق زوراً
هَلhas? أَتاكُمreached you مِنof شَأنِهِits matter تَحريمa prohibition
هَل أَتاكُم مِن شَأنِهِ تَحريم
Every one of you bears false witness against the truth.
Has a prohibition against it reached you?
حسبكمenough for you لاnot يُباركbless اللَهُGod فيكُمin you
حسبكم لا يُبارك اللَهُ فيكُم
إِنindeed شَيطانthe devil of بغيكُمyour tyranny لَرَجيمsurely accursed
إِن شَيطان بغيكُم لَرَجيم
Enough! May God not bless you.
Indeed, the devil of your tyranny is accursed.
فَلوso if أَنَّthat النُجومthe stars أَمسَتbecame رجوماًmissiles
فَلو أَنَّ النُجوم أَمسَت رجوماً
ماnot عدتكمpassed you by وَاللَهby God تِلكَthose الرجومmissiles
ما عدتكم وَاللَه تِلكَ الرجوم
So if the stars were to become missiles,
Those missiles, by God, would not pass you by.
أَيO رئوبينReuben أَيwhat شَعبpeople تُناديyou call upon
أَي رئوبين أَي شَعب تُنادي
إِنindeed رَبّاًa Lord أَبادهdestroyed it لَحَكيمsurely wise
إِن رَبّاً أَباده لَحَكيم
O Reuben, what people do you call upon?
Indeed, a Lord who destroyed it is wise.
أَيO رئوبينReuben هَلhave? قَرَأتyou read شكسبيShakespea-
أَي رئوبين هَل قَرَأت شكسبي
ر-re بَلىyes أَنتَyou شاعرa poet مَشئومill-omened
ر بَلى أَنتَ شاعر مَشئوم
O Reuben, have you read
Shakespeare? Yes—you are an ill-omened poet.
وَشكسبيرand Shakespeare خالدthe immortal of القَومthe people فيكُمconcerning you
وَشكسبير خالد القَوم فيكُم
أَمرthe story of شيلوخShylock فيamong الوَرىhumankind مَعلومknown
أَمر شيلوخ في الوَرى مَعلوم
And Shakespeare is his people's immortal; as for you,
Shylock's story is known among humankind.
غَيرyet أَنthat الَّذينthose who مِنهُمamong them شكسبيShakespea-
غَير أَن الَّذين مِنهُم شكسبي
ر-re تَناسواpretended to forget ماwhat قالَsaid ذاكَthat العَظيمgreat man
ر تَناسوا ما قالَ ذاكَ العَظيم
Yet those whose number includes
Shakespeare pretended to forget what that great man said.
ياO يَهوديّJew هَلhave? سَمعتَyou heard بِشَعبof a people
يا يَهوديّ هَل سَمعتَ بِشَعب
ضَلَّwent astray حَتّىuntil فيin كُلِevery قُطرٍland يَهيمwanders
ضَلَّ حَتّى في كُلِ قُطرٍ يَهيم
O Jew, have you heard of a people
That went astray, so that it wanders in every land?
شَعبكمyour people كَالذبابlike flies فيin كُلِevery أَرضland
شَعبكم كَالذباب في كُلِ أَرض
مِنهُof it شَيءa portion عَلىover القذورfilth يَحومhovers
مِنهُ شَيء عَلى القذور يَحوم
Your people are like flies: in every land,
Some of them hover over filth.
وَعَجيبand a wonder مِنamong العَجائبwonders أَنthat يَطit see-
وَعَجيب مِن العَجائب أَن يَط
لب-ks حُكماًdominion وَدَهرَهُand throughout its life مَحكومruled
لب حُكماً وَدَهرَهُ مَحكوم
And it is a wonder among wonders that it should
Seek dominion, though it has been ruled all its life.
وَغَريبand a marvel مِنamong الغَرائبmarvels أَنthat يَجit gath-
وَغَريب مِن الغَرائب أَن يَج
مع-ers شَملاًa community شِتاتهits dispersal مَحتومinevitable
مع شَملاً شِتاته مَحتوم
And a marvel among marvels is that it should
Gather a community whose dispersal is inevitable.
غَضَبُthe wrath of اللَهGod ماnot يَزالceases عَلَيكُمupon you
غَضَبُ اللَه ما يَزال عَلَيكُم
وَعدthe promise of بلفورَBalfour دونَهُbefore it مَهزومdefeated
وَعد بلفورَ دونَهُ مَهزوم
God's wrath still rests upon you;
Balfour's promise is defeated before it.
نادِcall أَبطالكyour heroes الَّذينwho تَوارواhid themselves
نادِ أَبطالك الَّذين تَواروا
فيin الشَبابيكthe windows إِنَّهُمindeed they are لقرومsurely champions
في الشَبابيك إِنَّهُم لقروم
Call your heroes who hid themselves
In the windows; they are champions indeed.
يَرقبونthey watch for الأَطفالthe children مِناof ours فَإِنso if لاthey appe-
يَرقبون الأَطفال مِنا فَإِن لا
حوا-ar رَموهمthey shot them فَهالكthen one is dead وَكَليمand one is wounded
حوا رَموهم فَهالك وَكَليم
They watch for our children; if they
Appear, they shoot them—some killed, some wounded.
فيin يَديهُمtheir hands سِلاحthe weapon of قَومa people عَلَيهon it
في يَديهُم سِلاح قَوم عَلَيه
أَسَدٌa lion فيin حَديدهits iron مَختومstamped
أَسَدٌ في حَديده مَختوم
In their hands is a people's weapon; on it,
A lion is stamped into its iron.
نادِهمcall them يَقذِفواthey hurl القَنابلthe bombs وَاِصرَخand shout
نادِهم يَقذِفوا القَنابل وَاِصرَخ
شَعبthe people of صَهيونZion أَعزَلunarmed مَظلومoppressed
شَعب صَهيون أَعزَل مَظلوم
Call them to hurl bombs, and shout:
The people of Zion are unarmed and oppressed!
وَالعنand curse الأنكليزthe English وَاحملand carry ظباهمtheir blades
وَالعن الأنكليز وَاحمل ظباهم
إِنindeed نَكرانdenial of فَضلهمtheir favor لَجَسيمsurely grave
إِن نَكران فَضلهم لَجَسيم
And curse the English, and carry their blades;
Indeed, denying their favor is a grave matter.
لبنthe milk of الأَرضthe land فاضَoverflowed سماًas poison زَعافاًdeadly
لبن الأَرض فاضَ سماً زَعافاً
وَدَماًand blood فَاِنزلواso settle بِهاin it وَأَقيمواand remain
وَدَماً فَاِنزلوا بِها وَأَقيموا
The land's milk overflowed as deadly poison
And blood; so settle there and remain.
وَاِشرَبوهand drink it ملءto the fullness of البُطونthe bellies هَنيئاًwith pleasure
وَاِشرَبوه ملء البُطون هَنيئاً
هَكَذاthus تَشربdrink الذِئابthe wolves الهيمthirst-maddened
هَكَذا تَشرب الذِئاب الهيم
And drink it, filling your bellies, with pleasure.
Thus drink the thirst-maddened wolves.
ياO يَهوديJew لاno عَليكupon you سَلامٌpeace
يا يَهودي لا عَليك سَلامٌ
وَإِذاand if شئتyou wish لاno عَلَيكupon you شلومshalom (peace)
وَإِذا شئت لا عَلَيك شلوم
O Jew, no peace be upon you.
And if you wish, no shalom be upon you.
Partial English translation: 41 of 82 Arabic lines translated.