مَتَىwhen أَنْتَyou عَنْfrom أُحْمُوقَةِfolly الْغَيِّwaywardness نَازِعُturning away
مَتَى أَنْتَ عَنْ أُحْمُوقَةِ الْغَيِّ نَازِعُ
وَفِيand in الشَّيْبِgray hair لِلنَّفْسِfor the soul الأَبِيَّةِproud وَازِعُa restraint
وَفِي الشَّيْبِ لِلنَّفْسِ الأَبِيَّةِ وَازِعُ
When will you turn away from the folly of waywardness?
When will you resist foolish passions,
And gray hair restrains the proud soul.
And oppose the rebellious soul in old age?
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed فِيin تِسْعٍnine وَعِشْرِينَand twenty حِجَّةًa year
أَلا إِنَّ فِي تِسْعٍ وَعِشْرِينَ حِجَّةً
لِكُلِّfor every أَخِيa devotee of لَهْوٍrevelry عَنِfrom اللَّهْوِrevelry رَادِعُa deterrent
لِكُلِّ أَخِي لَهْوٍ عَنِ اللَّهْوِ رَادِعُ
Behold, in nine and twenty years
Surely in youth there are twenty-nine excuses
There is a check upon revelry for every reveler.
For every fool to turn away from vanity.
فَحَتَّامَhow long, then تُصِيْبُكَstrike you الْغَوَانِيbeautiful women بِدَلِّهَاwith their coquetry
فَحَتَّامَ تُصِيْبُكَ الْغَوَانِي بِدَلِّهَا
وتَهْفُوand make sway بِلِيتَيْكَwith both sides of your neck الْحَمامُthe doves السَّوَاجِعُcooing
وتَهْفُو بِلِيتَيْكَ الْحَمامُ السَّوَاجِعُ
How long, then, will beauties smite you with their coquetry,
So wine will gradually overcome you in return,
And cooing doves make both sides of your neck sway?
And doves will moan for your nights.
أَمَاis there not لَكَfor you فِيin الْمَاضِينَthose who passed قَبْلَكَbefore you زَاجِرٌa warning
أَمَا لَكَ فِي الْمَاضِينَ قَبْلَكَ زَاجِرٌ
يَكُفُّكَrestrains you عَنْfrom هَذَاthis بَلَىyes, indeed أَنْتَyou طَامِعُcovetous
يَكُفُّكَ عَنْ هَذَا بَلَى أَنْتَ طَامِعُ
Is there no warning for you in those who passed before you,
Is there no warner from the past generations before you
To restrain you from this? Yes—but you are still covetous.
To stop you from this? Yes, but you are still greedy.
وَهَلْand does يَسْتَفِيقُawaken الْمَرْءُa person مِنْfrom سَكْرَةِintoxication الصِّبَاyouth
وَهَلْ يَسْتَفِيقُ الْمَرْءُ مِنْ سَكْرَةِ الصِّبَا
إِذَاif لَمْnot تُهَذِّبْtemper جَانِبَيهِhis two sides الْوَقَائِعُordeals
إِذَا لَمْ تُهَذِّبْ جَانِبَيهِ الْوَقَائِعُ
Can a man awaken from youth's intoxication,
Can a man recover from the intoxication of youth
Unless ordeals have tempered his character?
If calamities do not educate him on both sides?
يَرَىsees الْمَرْءُa person عُنْوَانَthe sign of الْمَنُونِdeath بِرَأْسِهِupon his head
يَرَى الْمَرْءُ عُنْوَانَ الْمَنُونِ بِرَأْسِهِ
وَيَذْهَبُand goes on يُلْهِيdistracting نَفْسَهُhimself وَيُصَانِعُand temporizes
وَيَذْهَبُ يُلْهِي نَفْسَهُ وَيُصَانِعُ
A man sees death's sign upon his head,
A man sees the omens of death around him
Yet goes on distracting himself and temporizing.
Yet he goes to amuse himself and flirt.
أَلاbehold إِنَّمَاonly هَذِيthese اللَّيَالِيnights عَقَارِبٌscorpions
أَلا إِنَّمَا هَذِي اللَّيَالِي عَقَارِبٌ
تَدِبُّcreep وَهَذَاand this الدَّهْرُtime ذِئْبٌa wolf مُخَادِعُdeceitful
تَدِبُّ وَهَذَا الدَّهْرُ ذِئْبٌ مُخَادِعُ
Behold, these nights are nothing but scorpions,
Beware, these nights creep like scorpions,
Creeping; and this Time is a deceitful wolf.
And time is a deceitful wolf.
فَلاso do not تَحْسَبَنَّever suppose الدَّهْرَtime لُعْبَةَthe plaything of هَازِلٍa jester
فَلا تَحْسَبَنَّ الدَّهْرَ لُعْبَةَ هَازِلٍ
فَمَاfor not هُوَit إِلاexcept صَرْفُهُits reversals وَالْفَجَائِعُand calamities
فَمَا هُوَ إِلا صَرْفُهُ وَالْفَجَائِعُ
So do not think Time a jester's plaything;
Do not assume time is a jesting companion,
For it is nothing but its reversals and calamities.
It only turns and brings catastrophes.
فَيَاoh, then رُبَّمَاhow often بَاتَspent the night الْفَتَىthe young man وَهْوَwhile he آمِنٌsecure
فَيَا رُبَّمَا بَاتَ الْفَتَى وَهْوَ آمِنٌ
وَأَصْبَحَand awoke قَدْalready سُدَّتْwere barred عَلَيْهِto him الْمَطَالِعُthe ways out
وَأَصْبَحَ قَدْ سُدَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الْمَطَالِعُ
Oh, how often a young man spends the night secure,
Sometimes a lad sleeps feeling safe
And wakes with all the ways out barred to him.
Then wakes to find opportunities closed.
فَفِيمَwhat use, then اقْتِنَاءُacquiring الدِّرْعِarmor وَالسَّهْمُwhile the arrow نَافِذٌpiercing through
فَفِيمَ اقْتِنَاءُ الدِّرْعِ وَالسَّهْمُ نَافِذٌ
وَفِيمَand what use ادِّخَارُhoarding الْمَالِwealth وَالْعُمْرُwhile life ضَائِعُwasting away
وَفِيمَ ادِّخَارُ الْمَالِ وَالْعُمْرُ ضَائِعُ
What use, then, is acquiring armor when the arrow pierces through?
Of what use is hoarding armor and sharp arrows,
And what use is hoarding wealth while life wastes away?
While life is wasted and time misspent?
يَوَدُّlongs الْفَتَىthe young man أَنْto يَجْمَعَgather الأَرْضَthe earth كُلَّهَاall of it
يَوَدُّ الْفَتَى أَنْ يَجْمَعَ الأَرْضَ كُلَّهَا
إِلَيْهِto himself وَلَمَّاand not yet يَدْرِknows مَاwhat اللهُGod صَانِعُwill do
إِلَيْهِ وَلَمَّا يَدْرِ مَا اللهُ صَانِعُ
A young man longs to gather the whole earth
A lad wishes to gather all wealth to himself
To himself, though he does not yet know what God will do.
Not knowing what God will decree.
فَقَدْfor perhaps يَسْتَحِيلُturns into الْمَالُwealth حَتْفاًdeath لِرَبِّهِfor its owner
فَقَدْ يَسْتَحِيلُ الْمَالُ حَتْفاً لِرَبِّهِ
وَتَأْتِيand follow عَلَىon أَعْقَابِهِنَّtheir heels الْمَطَامِعُgreedy ambitions
وَتَأْتِي عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِنَّ الْمَطَامِعُ
For wealth may turn into death for its owner,
Wealth may become one's ruin for his Lord's sake,
And greedy ambitions follow upon their heels.
And afterward, ambitions come to him.
أَلاbehold إِنَّمَاonly الأَيَّامُthe days تَجْرِيrun بِحُكْمِهَاby their decree
أَلا إِنَّمَا الأَيَّامُ تَجْرِي بِحُكْمِهَا
فَيُحْرَمُso is deprived ذُوone possessing كَدٍّtoil وَيُرْزَقُand is provided for وَادِعُone at ease
فَيُحْرَمُ ذُو كَدٍّ وَيُرْزَقُ وَادِعُ
Behold, the days run by their own decree:
Days pass according to their destiny,
The toiler goes without, while the man at ease is provided for.
Denying the toiler while sustaining the calm.
فَلاso do not تَقْعُدَنْever sit لِلدَّهْرِfor time تَنْظُرُwatching غِبَّهُits outcome
فَلا تَقْعُدَنْ لِلدَّهْرِ تَنْظُرُ غِبَّهُ
عَلَىin حَسْرَةٍgrief فَاللَّهُfor God مُعْطٍa giver وَمَانِعُand a withholder
عَلَى حَسْرَةٍ فَاللَّهُ مُعْطٍ وَمَانِعُ
So do not sit watching Time's consequences
Do not sit watching how time tricks you
In grief, for God gives and withholds.
With regret, for God both gives and denies.
فَلَوْfor if أَنَّthat ماwhat يُعْطَىis given الْفَتَىthe young man قَدْرُthe measure of نَفْسِهِhis own self
فَلَوْ أَنَّ ما يُعْطَى الْفَتَى قَدْرُ نَفْسِهِ
لَمَاwould not بَاتَspend the night رِئْبَالُthe lion of الشَّرَىal-Shara وَهْوَwhile it جَائِعُhungry
لَمَا بَاتَ رِئْبَالُ الشَّرَى وَهْوَ جَائِعُ
For if a man's allotment matched his worth,
If a lad received only as much as he deserves,
The lion of al-Shara would not spend the night hungry.
No seeker of evil would sleep hungry.
وَدَعْand let كُلَّevery ذِيpossessor of عَقْلٍreason يَسِيرُproceed بِعَقْلِهِby his reason
وَدَعْ كُلَّ ذِي عَقْلٍ يَسِيرُ بِعَقْلِهِ
يُنَازِعُwrestles with مِنْamong أَهْوَائِهِhis desires مَاwhatever يُنَازِعُwrestles with
يُنَازِعُ مِنْ أَهْوَائِهِ مَا يُنَازِعُ
Let every man of reason follow his own reason,
Leave everyone to walk in their own way,
Wrestling with whichever of his desires he wrestles with.
Resisting passions as much as he can resist.
فَمَاfor not النَّاسُpeople إِلَّاexcept كَالَّذِيlike what أَنَاI عَالِمٌknowing
فَمَا النَّاسُ إِلَّا كَالَّذِي أَنَا عَالِمٌ
قَدِيماًlong since وَعِلْمُand knowledge الْمَرْءِof a person بِالشَّيءِof a thing نَافِعُuseful
قَدِيماً وَعِلْمُ الْمَرْءِ بِالشَّيءِ نَافِعُ
For people are only as I have known them
I know people only as I know myself,
Long since; a man's knowledge of a thing is useful.
And knowing a thing benefits one beforehand.
وَلَسْتُand I am not بِعَلَّامِan all-knower of الْغُيُوبِhidden things وَإِنَّماbut only
وَلَسْتُ بِعَلَّامِ الْغُيُوبِ وَإِنَّما
أَرَىI see بِلِحَاظِthrough the eyes of الرَّأْيِjudgment مَاwhat هُوَit وَاقِعُto happen
أَرَى بِلِحَاظِ الرَّأْيِ مَا هُوَ وَاقِعُ
I am no knower of all hidden things; I only
I am no knower of mysteries; rather,
See through the eyes of judgment what is to happen.
I see with reason's eye what will happen.
وَذَرْهُمْand leave them يَخُوضُواplunge on إِنَّمَاonly هِيَit فِتْنَةٌa trial
وَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا إِنَّمَا هِيَ فِتْنَةٌ
لَهُمْfor them بَيْنَهَاin its midst عَمَّاafter but قَلِيلٍa little while مَصَارِعُplaces of death
لَهُمْ بَيْنَهَا عَمَّا قَلِيلٍ مَصَارِعُ
Leave them to plunge on; it is only a trial,
Leave them to their sedition; it is but a trial
Within which they will soon meet their deaths.
Among which, after a little, there are fallen ones.
فَلَوْfor if عَلِمَknew الإِنْسَانُa person مَاwhat هُوَit كَائِنٌwill be
فَلَوْ عَلِمَ الإِنْسَانُ مَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ
لَمَاwould not نَامَsleep سُمَّارٌnight-time talkers وَلاnor هَبَّrise هَاجِعُa sleeper
لَمَا نَامَ سُمَّارٌ وَلا هَبَّ هَاجِعُ
For if a man knew what was to come,
If man knew what will come to pass,
No night-time talkers would sleep, nor would any sleeper rise.
No reveler would sleep nor stirrer awake.
وَمَاand not هَذِهِthese الأَجْسَامُbodies إِلَّاexcept هَيَاكِلٌframes
وَمَا هَذِهِ الأَجْسَامُ إِلَّا هَيَاكِلٌ
مُصَوَّرَةٌfashioned فِيهَاin them النُّفُوسُsouls وَدَائِعُdeposits held in trust
مُصَوَّرَةٌ فِيهَا النُّفُوسُ وَدَائِعُ
These bodies are nothing but frames,
These bodies are only animated forms
Fashioned, with souls held within them in trust.
Within which the souls reside.
فَأَيْنَwhere, then الْمُلُوكُthe kings الأَقْدَمُونَof old تَسَنَّمُواclimbed
فَأَيْنَ الْمُلُوكُ الأَقْدَمُونَ تَسَنَّمُوا
قِلالَsummits الْعُلاof glory فَالأَرْضُso the earth مِنْهُمْof them بَلاقِعُdesolate
قِلالَ الْعُلا فَالأَرْضُ مِنْهُمْ بَلاقِعُ
Where are the kings of old, who climbed
Where are the ancient kings who ascended
The summits of glory? The earth lies desolate without them.
The heights of glory? Earth now wears their ruins.
مَضَوْاthey passed وَأَقَامَand remained الدَّهْرُtime وَانْتَابَand came in succession بَعْدَهُمْafter them
مَضَوْا وَأَقَامَ الدَّهْرُ وَانْتَابَ بَعْدَهُمْ
مُلُوكٌkings وَبَادُواand they perished وَاسْتَهَلَّتْand appeared طَلائِعُvanguards
مُلُوكٌ وَبَادُوا وَاسْتَهَلَّتْ طَلائِعُ
They passed; Time remained, and after them came in turn
They passed away; time continued and afterward
Kings, who perished too, and vanguards appeared.
Kings took their place, perished, and vanguards came.
أَرَىI see كُلَّevery حَيٍّliving being ذَاهِبَاًdeparting بِيَدِby the hand of الرَّدىdeath
أَرَى كُلَّ حَيٍّ ذَاهِبَاً بِيَدِ الرَّدى
فَهَلْis, then أَحَدٌanyone مِمَّنْof those who تَرَحَّلَdeparted رَاجِعُreturning
فَهَلْ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ تَرَحَّلَ رَاجِعُ
I see every living being borne away by death's hand;
I see every living creature going by the hand of fate.
Will any of those who have departed return?
Will any of those who migrated return?
أُنَادِيI call out بِأَعْلَىat the top of الصَّوْتِthe voice أَسْأَلُI ask عَنْهُمُabout them
أُنَادِي بِأَعْلَى الصَّوْتِ أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُمُ
فَهَلْare, then أَنْتَyou يَاO دَهْرَTime of الأَعَاجِيبِmarvels سَامِعُlistening
فَهَلْ أَنْتَ يَا دَهْرَ الأَعَاجِيبِ سَامِعُ
I call at the top of my voice, asking after them:
I cry loudly asking about them -
Are you listening, O Time of marvels?
Do you hear, O time of wonders? Are you listening?
فَإِنْso if كُنْتَyou were لَمْnot تَسْمَعْhear نِدَاءًa call وَلَمْand not تُحِرْreturned
فَإِنْ كُنْتَ لَمْ تَسْمَعْ نِدَاءً وَلَمْ تُحِرْ
جَوَاباًan answer فَأَيُّthen what kind of الشَّيءِthing أَنْتَyou أُنَازِعُI contend with
جَوَاباً فَأَيُّ الشَّيءِ أَنْتَ أُنَازِعُ
If you have heard no call and returned
If you have not heard a call or roused
No answer, then what sort of thing are you that I contend with?
Any reply, what is it I dispute with you?
خَيَالٌa phantom لَعَمْرِيby my life لَيْسَnot يُجْدِيavails طِلابُهُits pursuit
خَيَالٌ لَعَمْرِي لَيْسَ يُجْدِي طِلابُهُ
وَمَأْسَفَةٌand a source of grief تُدْمَىare bloodied عَلَيْهَاover it الأَصَابِعُfingers
وَمَأْسَفَةٌ تُدْمَى عَلَيْهَا الأَصَابِعُ
A phantom, by my life, whose pursuit brings no good,
An illusion, by my life! Its seeker profits naught,
And a source of grief over which fingers bleed.
And it is a regret over which fingers are pressed.
فَمَنْwho, then لِيfor me وَرَوْعَاتُwhile the terrors of الْمُنَىhopes طَيْفُa phantom of حَالِمٍa dreamer
فَمَنْ لِي وَرَوْعَاتُ الْمُنَى طَيْفُ حَالِمٍ
بِذِيwith one possessing خُلَّةٍfriendship تَزْكُوflourish لَدَيْهِwith him الصَّنَائِعُkind deeds
بِذِي خُلَّةٍ تَزْكُو لَدَيْهِ الصَّنَائِعُ
Who can provide me—hope's terrors are a dreamer's phantom—
Who can I turn to when death's specters are
With a friend in whose care kindness flourishes?
The phantom of a visionary with whom crafts prosper?
أُشَاطِرُهُI share with him وُدِّيmy affection وَأُفْضِيand confide لِسَمْعِهِto his hearing
أُشَاطِرُهُ وُدِّي وَأُفْضِي لِسَمْعِهِ
بِسِرِّيwith my secret وَأُمْلِيهِand dictate to him الْمُنَىhopes وَهْوَwhile he رَابِعُat ease
بِسِرِّي وَأُمْلِيهِ الْمُنَى وَهْوَ رَابِعُ
I would share my affection with him and confide to his ear
I share my love with him and confide my secret to his hearing,
My secret, and tell him my hopes while he sits at ease.
Suggest to him my wishes while he is unperturbed.
لَعَلِّيperhaps I إِذَاif صَادَفْتُI find فِيin الْقَوْلِspeech رَاحَةًrelief
لَعَلِّي إِذَا صَادَفْتُ فِي الْقَوْلِ رَاحَةً
نَضَحْتُI cooled غَلِيلاًa burning thirst مَاnot رَوَتْهُquenched it الْمَشَارِعُwatering places
نَضَحْتُ غَلِيلاً مَا رَوَتْهُ الْمَشَارِعُ
Perhaps, if I find relief in speaking,
Perhaps if I find comfort in speech
I may cool a thirst no watering places have quenched.
I may pour out bitterness community streets have watered.
لَعَمْرُby the life of أَبِيmy father وَهْوَand he الَّذِيwho لَوْif ذَكَرْتُهُI mentioned him
لَعَمْرُ أَبِي وَهْوَ الَّذِي لَوْ ذَكَرْتُهُ
لَماwould not اخْتَالَswagger فَخَّارٌa boaster وَلاnor احْتَالَscheme خَادِعُa deceiver
لَما اخْتَالَ فَخَّارٌ وَلا احْتَالَ خَادِعُ
By my father's life—he whom, if I named him,
By the life of my father - and he is the one whom if I recall
No boaster would swagger, nor any deceiver scheme—
No pot will crack nor swindler scheme.
لَمَاcertainly never نَازَعَتْنِيpressed me النَّفْسُthe soul فِيconcerning غَيْرِother than حَقِّهَاits rightful due
لَمَا نَازَعَتْنِي النَّفْسُ فِي غَيْرِ حَقِّهَا
وَلاnor ذَلَّلَتْنِيhumbled me لِلرِّجَالِbefore men المَطَامِعُgreedy ambitions
وَلا ذَلَّلَتْنِي لِلرِّجَالِ المَطَامِعُ
My soul has never urged me to seek what was not its due,
My soul would not have disputed its rights with me
Nor has greed humbled me before men.
Or debased me to greedy men.
وَمَاand not أَنَاI وَالدُّنْيَاwhile the world نَعِيمٌcomfort وَلَذَّةٌand pleasure
وَمَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا نَعِيمٌ وَلَذَّةٌ
بِذِيone possessing تَرَفٍluxury تَحْنُوbend tenderly عَلَيْهِover him الْمَضَاجِعُbeds
بِذِي تَرَفٍ تَحْنُو عَلَيْهِ الْمَضَاجِعُ
Nor am I, though the world is comfort and delight,
As for me and the world - it is luxury and pleasure
A man of luxury whom beds embrace.
For one with leisure upon whom beds wait.
فَلاso not السَّيْفُthe sword مَفْلُولٌblunted وَلاnor الرَّأْيُjudgment عَازِبٌabsent
فَلا السَّيْفُ مَفْلُولٌ وَلا الرَّأْيُ عَازِبٌ
وَلاnor الزَّنْدُthe wrist مَغْلُولٌshackled وَلاnor السَّاقُthe leg ظَالِعُlame
وَلا الزَّنْدُ مَغْلُولٌ وَلا السَّاقُ ظَالِعُ
My sword is not blunted, nor my judgment absent,
No sword lies useless, no opinion unconsulted,
Nor is my wrist shackled, nor my leg lame.
No flint idle, nor stallion stalled.
وَلَكِنَّنِيbut I فِيin مَعْشَرٍa people لَمْnot يَقُمْrose بِهِمْamong them
وَلَكِنَّنِي فِي مَعْشَرٍ لَمْ يَقُمْ بِهِمْ
كَرِيمٌa noble man وَلَمْand not يَرْكَبْbraved شَبَاthe edge of السَّيْفِthe sword خَالِعُa rebel
كَرِيمٌ وَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ شَبَا السَّيْفِ خَالِعُ
Yet I live among a people where no noble man
Rather, I live amongst a people no noble one arose amongst
Has risen, nor any rebel braved the sword's edge.
Nor did one noble of sword mount its stirrup.
لَوَاعِبُplayers بِالأَسْمَاءِwith names يَبْتَدِرُونَهَاthey rush to claim them
لَوَاعِبُ بِالأَسْمَاءِ يَبْتَدِرُونَهَا
سَفَاهاًfoolishly وَبِالأَلْقَابِand with titles فَهْيَfor they are بَضَائِعُmerchandise
سَفَاهاً وَبِالأَلْقَابِ فَهْيَ بَضَائِعُ
They toy with names, rushing to claim them
They flirt with names foolishly
In folly, and with titles, for these are merchandise.
And peddle titles - those are their wares.
وَهَلْand is there فِيin التَّحَلِّيadorning oneself بِالْكُنَىwith honorific names مِنْany فَصِيلَةٍlineage
وَهَلْ فِي التَّحَلِّي بِالْكُنَى مِنْ فَصِيلَةٍ
إِذَاif لَمْnot تُزَيَّنْare adorned بِالْفَعَالِwith deeds الطَّبائِعُnatures
إِذَا لَمْ تُزَيَّنْ بِالْفَعَالِ الطَّبائِعُ
Does adorning oneself with honorific names confer any lineage,
What lineage is there in titles if traits
If character is not adorned with deeds?
Are not adorned with deeds?
أُعَاشِرُهُمI associate with them رَغْمَاًunwillingly وَوُدَّيand my wish لَوْif only انَّthat لِيfor me
أُعَاشِرُهُم رَغْمَاً وَوُدَّي لَوْ انَّ لِي
بِهِمْin their place نَعَماًlivestock أَدْعُوI call بِهِfor it فَيُسَارِعُso it hastens
بِهِمْ نَعَماً أَدْعُو بِهِ فَيُسَارِعُ
I keep their company unwillingly; I wish I had
I socialize with them resentfully. I wish
A herd in their place, hastening whenever I call it.
I had some boon through them I could call and they would hasten.
فَيَاso, O قَوْمُpeople هُبُّواrise إِنَّمَاonly الْعُمْرُlife فُرْصَةٌan opportunity
فَيَا قَوْمُ هُبُّوا إِنَّمَا الْعُمْرُ فُرْصَةٌ
وَفِيand in الدَّهْرِtime طُرْقٌpaths جَمَّةٌmany وَمَنافِعُand benefits
وَفِي الدَّهْرِ طُرْقٌ جَمَّةٌ وَمَنافِعُ
So, my people, rise! Life is but an opportunity,
O people, life is but an opportunity
And Time holds many paths and benefits.
And time has many blocked, perilous roads.
أَصَبْرَاًendurance? عَلَىunder مَسِّthe touch of الْهَوَانِhumiliation وَأَنْتُمُwhile you
أَصَبْرَاً عَلَى مَسِّ الْهَوَانِ وَأَنْتُمُ
عَدِيدُas numerous as الْحَصَىpebbles إِنِّيindeed I إِلَىto اللَّهِGod رَاجِعُreturning
عَدِيدُ الْحَصَى إِنِّي إِلَى اللَّهِ رَاجِعُ
Will you endure the touch of humiliation, when you are
Be patient with the touch of humiliation while you
As numerous as pebbles? Truly, to God I return.
Are many pebbles. I will return to God.
وَكَيْفَand how تَرَوْنَyou deem الذُّلَّhumiliation دَارَan abode of إِقَامَةٍresidence
وَكَيْفَ تَرَوْنَ الذُّلَّ دَارَ إِقَامَةٍ
وَذَلِكَand that فَضْلُthe bounty of اللَّهِGod فِيon الأَرْضِthe earth وَاسِعُvast
وَذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ وَاسِعُ
How can you deem humiliation a lasting abode,
How do you see humiliation as any place to stay
When God's bounty is so vast upon the earth?
When God's grace on earth is vast?
أَرَىI see أَرْؤُسَاًheads قَدْalready أَيْنَعَتْhave ripened لِحَصَادِهَاfor their harvest
أَرَى أَرْؤُسَاً قَدْ أَيْنَعَتْ لِحَصَادِهَا
فَأَيْنَwhere, then وَلاand not أَيْنَwhere السُّيُوفُthe swords الْقَوَاطِعُcleaving
فَأَيْنَ وَلا أَيْنَ السُّيُوفُ الْقَوَاطِعُ
I see heads that have ripened for their harvest:
I see heads that have ripened for their reaping.
Where, then—nowhere to be found—are the cleaving swords?
Where, O where are the cutting swords?
فَكُونُواthen be حَصِيداًmown down خَامِدِينَlifeless أَوِor افْزَعُواrush
فَكُونُوا حَصِيداً خَامِدِينَ أَوِ افْزَعُوا
إِلَىto الْحَرْبِwar حَتَّىuntil يَدْفَعَrepels الضَّيْمَoppression دَافِعُa defender
إِلَى الْحَرْبِ حَتَّى يَدْفَعَ الضَّيْمَ دَافِعُ
Then be mown down, lifeless, or rush
Be harvested, lying vanquished, or take fright
To war, until a defender beats back oppression.
And flee to war until an avenger drives away oppression.
أَهَبْتُI called out فَعَادَso returned الصَّوْتُthe voice لَمْnot يَقْضِfulfill حَاجَةًa need
أَهَبْتُ فَعَادَ الصَّوْتُ لَمْ يَقْضِ حَاجَةً
إِلَيَّto me وَلَبَّانِيand answered me الصَّدَىthe echo وَهْوَwhile it طَائِعُobedient
إِلَيَّ وَلَبَّانِي الصَّدَى وَهْوَ طَائِعُ
I called aloud; my voice returned, no purpose served,
I roused only for the voice to return, fulfilling no need.
To me, and the echo answered me obediently.
Echo answered me while complying.
فَلَمْso not أَدْرِI know أَنَّthat اللَّهَGod صَوَّرَfashioned قَبْلَكُمْbefore you
فَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ اللَّهَ صَوَّرَ قَبْلَكُمْ
تَمَاثِيلَstatues لَمْnot يُخْلَقْwere created لَهُنَّfor them مَسَامِعُears
تَمَاثِيلَ لَمْ يُخْلَقْ لَهُنَّ مَسَامِعُ
I did not know that God had fashioned, before you,
I did not know that God formed before you
Statues for which no ears were made.
Statues with no hearing created for them.
فَلاso do not تَدَعُواabandon هَذِيthese الْقُلُوبَhearts فَإِنَّهَاfor they are
فَلا تَدَعُوا هَذِي الْقُلُوبَ فَإِنَّهَا
قَوَارِيرُglass vessels مَحْنِيّbent عَلَيْهَاover them الأَضَالِعُribs
قَوَارِيرُ مَحْنِيّ عَلَيْهَا الأَضَالِعُ
So do not abandon these hearts, for they are
Do not call these hearts for they are
Glass vessels around which the ribs are bowed.
Jugs with ribs bent over them.
وَدُونَكُمُوهَاand take it, all of you صَعْدَةًa straight spear مَنْطِقِيَّةًof speech
وَدُونَكُمُوهَا صَعْدَةً مَنْطِقِيَّةً
تَفُلُّblunts شَبَاthe tips of الأَرْمَاحِlances وَهْيَwhile they شَوَارِعُleveled to strike
تَفُلُّ شَبَا الأَرْمَاحِ وَهْيَ شَوَارِعُ
And take it, all of you: a straight spear of speech,
Set them upright with rational ascent
Which blunts the lance-tips as they are leveled to strike.
Where zeal for spears burst and they are deserted.
تَسِيرُtravel بِهَاwith it الرُّكْبَانُriders فِيthrough كُلِّevery مَنْزِلٍhalting place
تَسِيرُ بِهَا الرُّكْبَانُ فِي كُلِّ مَنْزِلٍ
وَتَلْتَفُّand cluster مِنْout of شَوْقٍlonging إِلَيْهَاfor it الْمَجَامِعُgatherings
وَتَلْتَفُّ مِنْ شَوْقٍ إِلَيْهَا الْمَجَامِعُ
Riders journey with it through every halting place,
Travellers move by them in every abode
And gatherings cluster round it out of longing.
And communities yearn for them in passion.
فَمِنْهَاso from it لِقَوْمٍfor some people أَوْشُحٌsashes وَقَلائِدٌand necklaces
فَمِنْهَا لِقَوْمٍ أَوْشُحٌ وَقَلائِدٌ
وَمِنْهَاand from it لِقَوْمٍfor some people آخَرِينَother جَوَامِعُshackles
وَمِنْهَا لِقَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ جَوَامِعُ
For some people, it yields sashes and necklaces,
Among them some have night shelters and necklaces
And for other people, shackles.
While others have mosques.
أَلاbehold إِنَّهاindeed it is تِلْكَthat الَّتِيwhich لَوْif تَنَزَّلَتْdescended
أَلا إِنَّها تِلْكَ الَّتِي لَوْ تَنَزَّلَتْ
عَلَىupon جَبَلٍa mountain أَهْوَتْwould cast down بِهِit فَهْوَso it is خَاشِعُhumbled
عَلَى جَبَلٍ أَهْوَتْ بِهِ فَهْوَ خَاشِعُ
Behold, it is that which, were it to descend
Beware - those are the same that if they descended
Upon a mountain, would cast it down, leaving it humbled.
Upon a mountain, it would tumble down humbled.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.