لِأَيِّwith which خَلِيلٍclose friend فِيin الزَّمَانِthese times أُرَافِقُI keep company
لِأَيِّ خَلِيلٍ فِي الزَّمَانِ أُرَافِقُ
وَأَكْثَرُand most مَنْthose whom لاقَيْتُI met خِبٌّa schemer مُنَافِقُhypocritical
وَأَكْثَرُ مَنْ لاقَيْتُ خِبٌّ مُنَافِقُ
With which friend in these times shall I keep company,
For which companion of present times shall I keep company,
When most I have met are cunning hypocrites?
When most I meet are false and hypocritical?
بَلَوْتُI tested بَنِيthe sons of الدُّنْيَاthe world فَلَمْso did not أَرَI see صَادِقَاًa truthful man
بَلَوْتُ بَنِي الدُّنْيَا فَلَمْ أَرَ صَادِقَاً
فَأَيْنَso where لَعَمْرِيby my life الأَكْرَمُونَthe noblest الأَصَادِقُthe truest
فَأَيْنَ لَعَمْرِي الأَكْرَمُونَ الأَصَادِقُ
I have tested the sons of this world and found no truthful man;
I tested the sons of this world and found no one truthful,
So where, by my life, are the noblest, truest men?
So where are the noble and truthful?
أُحَاوِلُI pursue أَمْرَاًa goal قَصَّرَتْfell short دُونَهُof reaching it النُّهَىintellects
أُحَاوِلُ أَمْرَاً قَصَّرَتْ دُونَهُ النُّهَى
وَشَابَتْand turned gray وَلَمْand did not تَبْلُغْreach مَدَاهُits extent الْمَفَارِقُhair-partings
وَشَابَتْ وَلَمْ تَبْلُغْ مَدَاهُ الْمَفَارِقُ
I pursue a goal that minds have fallen short of reaching;
I strive for a matter beyond the grasp of advice,
And hair-partings have grayed without attaining its extent.
And persist though departures fell short of reaching its extent.
وَأَعْظَمُand the greatest مَاwhat تَرْجُوهُyou hope for it مَاwhat لاnot تَنَالُهُyou attain it
وَأَعْظَمُ مَا تَرْجُوهُ مَا لا تَنَالُهُ
وَأَكْثَرُand most مَنْthose whom تَلْقَاهُyou meet him مَنْthose who لاnot يُوَافِقُagree
وَأَكْثَرُ مَنْ تَلْقَاهُ مَنْ لا يُوَافِقُ
And your greatest hope is what you cannot attain;
The greatest of what you hope for is what you cannot attain,
And most whom you meet are those who do not agree with you.
And most of those you meet do not agree.
وَمَاand not كُلُّevery مَنْone who حَدَّsharpened الرَّوِيَّةَdeliberation حَازِمٌprudent
وَمَا كُلُّ مَنْ حَدَّ الرَّوِيَّةَ حَازِمٌ
وَلاnor كُلُّevery مَنْone who رَامَsought السَّوِيَّةَfairness فَارِقُdiscerning
وَلا كُلُّ مَنْ رَامَ السَّوِيَّةَ فَارِقُ
And not everyone who sharpens his judgment is prudent;
Not everyone who tells tales is wise,
Nor is everyone who seeks fairness discerning.
Nor is everyone who claims integrity, upright.
أَضَعْتُI squandered زَمَانِيmy time بَيْنَamong قَوْمٍa people لَوَif انَّthat لِيfor me
أَضَعْتُ زَمَانِي بَيْنَ قَوْمٍ لَوَ انَّ لِي
بِهِمْin their place غَيْرَهُمْothers than them مَاnot أَرْهَقَتْنِيoverwhelmed me الْبَوائِقُcalamities
بِهِمْ غَيْرَهُمْ مَا أَرْهَقَتْنِي الْبَوائِقُ
I squandered my time among a people; had I had
A cheerful face hiding rage underneath,
Others in their place, calamities would not have overwhelmed me.
A melody of love masking betrayal between.
فَإِنْso if أَكُI am مُلْقَىlaid down الرَّحْلِthe saddle فِيهِمْamong them فَإِنَّنِيthen indeed I
فَإِنْ أَكُ مُلْقَى الرَّحْلِ فِيهِمْ فَإِنَّنِي
لَهُمْfrom them بِالْخِلالِin qualities الصَّالِحَاتِvirtuous مُفَارِقُdistinct
لَهُمْ بِالْخِلالِ الصَّالِحَاتِ مُفَارِقُ
Though I have laid my saddle among them, I am
The morals of youth - when tested -
Distinct from them in virtuous qualities.
Reveal ignorance spreads among people.
مَعَاشِرُgroups of people سَادُواrose to eminence بِالنِّفَاقِthrough hypocrisy وَمَاand not لَهُمْthey have
مَعَاشِرُ سَادُوا بِالنِّفَاقِ وَمَا لَهُمْ
أُصُولٌroots أَظَلَّتْهَاshaded them فُرُوعٌbranches بَوَاسِقُtowering
أُصُولٌ أَظَلَّتْهَا فُرُوعٌ بَوَاسِقُ
People who rose to eminence through hypocrisy, yet have no
I learned to swallow my rage among them though
Roots shaded by towering branches.
It is forbearance, but destructive to the restrained one.
فَأَعْلَمُهُمْso their most learned عِنْدَduring الْخُصُومَةِdispute جَاهِلٌignorant
فَأَعْلَمُهُمْ عِنْدَ الْخُصُومَةِ جَاهِلٌ
وَأَتْقَاهُمُand their most pious عِنْدَin matters of الْعَفَافَةِchastity فَاسِقُdissolute
وَأَتْقَاهُمُ عِنْدَ الْعَفَافَةِ فَاسِقُ
So their most learned is ignorant in dispute,
They called me to distraction so I raced forth,
And their most pious is dissolute where chastity is concerned.
And I always race to the like of that.
طَلاقَةُcheerfulness وَجْهٍof a face تَحْتَهَاbeneath it الْغَيْظُrage كَاشِرٌbaring its teeth
طَلاقَةُ وَجْهٍ تَحْتَهَا الْغَيْظُ كَاشِرٌ
وَنَغْمَةُand a melody وُدٍّaffection بَيْنَهَاwithin it الْغَدْرُtreachery نَاعِقُcawing
وَنَغْمَةُ وُدٍّ بَيْنَهَا الْغَدْرُ نَاعِقُ
A cheerful face, beneath which rage bares its teeth;
But when hardship dragged on they led their camels
And a melody of affection, within which treachery caws;
To where neither guide nor driver reached.
وَأَخْلاقُand manners صِبْيَانٍchildren إِذَاwhen ماemphasis بَلَوْتَهُمْyou test them
وَأَخْلاقُ صِبْيَانٍ إِذَا ما بَلَوْتَهُمْ
عَلِمْتَyou learn بِأَنَّthat الْجَهْلَignorance فِيamong النَّاسِpeople نَافِقُin demand
عَلِمْتَ بِأَنَّ الْجَهْلَ فِي النَّاسِ نَافِقُ
And children's manners—whenever you test them,
May Allah not have mercy on one who sells his religion
You learn that ignorance is in demand among people.
For a world other than it, while aspiring for truth.
تَعَلَّمْتُI learned كَظْمَrestraining الْغَيظِanger فِيهِمْamong them وَإِنَّهُand indeed it
تَعَلَّمْتُ كَظْمَ الْغَيظِ فِيهِمْ وَإِنَّهُ
لَحِلْمٌsurely forbearance وَلَكِنْand yet لِلْحَفِيظَةِto zeal for honor مَاحِقُdestructive
لَحِلْمٌ وَلَكِنْ لِلْحَفِيظَةِ مَاحِقُ
I have learned to restrain my anger among them; indeed, it
I warned them of the obscured state of their affairs,
Is surely forbearance, yet it destroys zeal for honor.
And cautioned them, had one with insight comprehended.
دَعَوْنِيthey summoned me إِلَىto الْجُلَّىthe great crisis فَقُمْتُso I rose مُبَادِراًhastening
دَعَوْنِي إِلَى الْجُلَّى فَقُمْتُ مُبَادِراً
وَإِنِّيand indeed I إِلَىtoward أَمْثَالِthe likes of تِلْكَthat لَسَابِقُsurely foremost
وَإِنِّي إِلَى أَمْثَالِ تِلْكَ لَسَابِقُ
They summoned me to the great crisis, so I rose at once,
And I said: Cease evil and you will profit,
And I am surely foremost in undertakings like that.
For evil will have a day of inevitable destruction.
فَلَمَّاso when اسْتَمَرَّcontinued الْجِدُّthe earnest struggle سَاقُواthey drove حُمُولَهُمْtheir laden camels
فَلَمَّا اسْتَمَرَّ الْجِدُّ سَاقُوا حُمُولَهُمْ
إِلَىto حَيْثُwhere لَمْnot يَبْلُغْهُreached it حَادٍa camel-chanter وَسَائِقُand a driver
إِلَى حَيْثُ لَمْ يَبْلُغْهُ حَادٍ وَسَائِقُ
But when the earnest struggle continued, they drove their laden camels
But they thought my words were other than my beliefs,
To where neither camel-chanter nor driver had reached.
Despite my being truthful in all I said.
فَلاso may not رَحِمَhave mercy on اللَّهُGod امْرَأًa man بَاعَsold دِينَهُhis faith
فَلا رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً بَاعَ دِينَهُ
بِدُنْيَاfor worldly gain سِوَاهُsomeone other than him وَهْوَwhile he لِلْحَقِّat the truth رَامِقُlooking
بِدُنْيَا سِوَاهُ وَهْوَ لِلْحَقِّ رَامِقُ
May God show no mercy to a man who sold his faith
Did they know I was candid with my argument,
For another's worldly gain, though he gazes at the truth.
And truths emerged after being hidden?
عَلَىdespite أَنَّنِيthat I حَذَّرْتُهُمْI warned them غِبَّthe aftermath of أَمْرِهِمْtheir undertaking
عَلَى أَنَّنِي حَذَّرْتُهُمْ غِبَّ أَمْرِهِمْ
وَأَنْذَرْتُهُمْand I forewarned them لَوْif only كَانَwere يَفْقَهُunderstands مَائِقُa fool
وَأَنْذَرْتُهُمْ لَوْ كَانَ يَفْقَهُ مَائِقُ
Yet I had warned them of their undertaking's outcome,
Away with a people among whom is no wise person,
And forewarned them—if only a fool could understand!
Nor a sincere friend among them.
وَقُلْتُand I said لَهُمْto them كُفُّواdesist عَنِfrom الشَّرِّevil تَغْنَمُواyou will prosper
وَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ كُفُّوا عَنِ الشَّرِّ تَغْنَمُوا
فَلِلشَّرِّso for evil يَوْمٌa day لاno مَحَالَةَescape مَاحِقُdevastating
فَلِلشَّرِّ يَوْمٌ لا مَحَالَةَ مَاحِقُ
And I said to them, 'Desist from evil, and you will prosper;
I thought good of them, so I was struck with sorrow,
For evil has a day of inevitable ruin.'
That clings between bosoms, adhered.
فَظَنُّواso they supposed بِقَوْلِيabout my words غَيْرَother than مَاwhat فِيin يَقِينِهِits certainty
فَظَنُّوا بِقَوْلِي غَيْرَ مَا فِي يَقِينِهِ
عَلَىdespite أَنَّنِيthat I فِيin كُلِّall مَاthat قُلْتُI said صَادِقُtruthful
عَلَى أَنَّنِي فِي كُلِّ مَا قُلْتُ صَادِقُ
But they took my words to mean other than their true import,
Oh how I wish I had curbed my forbearance and had not been
Though I was truthful in everything I said.
A leader, as obstacles befell me for that reason.
فَهَلْso have عَلِمُواthey learned أَنِّيthat I صَدَعْتُI proclaimed openly بِحُجَّتِيwith my proof
فَهَلْ عَلِمُوا أَنِّي صَدَعْتُ بِحُجَّتِي
وَقَدْand indeed ظَهَرَتْappeared بَعْدَafter الْخَفَاءِconcealment الْحَقَائِقُthe truths
وَقَدْ ظَهَرَتْ بَعْدَ الْخَفَاءِ الْحَقَائِقُ
So have they learned that I openly presented my proof,
Oh how I wish I had awakened atop a towering peak,
Now that the truths have emerged from concealment?
And not seen what became of agreements.
فَتَبَّاًso ruin لَهُمْupon them مِنْof مَعْشَرٍa company لَيْسَthere is not فِيهِمُamong them
فَتَبَّاً لَهُمْ مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِمُ
رَشِيدٌa right-minded man وَلاnor مِنْهُمْamong them خَلِيلٌa close friend مُصَادِقُfaithful
رَشِيدٌ وَلا مِنْهُمْ خَلِيلٌ مُصَادِقُ
So ruin upon them—a people among whom there is no
They exposed me to spears then hastily turned away,
Right-minded man, nor any loyal friend among them.
With not a knocker knocking from harm.
ظَنَنْتُI thought بِهِمْof them خَيْرَاًgood فَأُبْتُso I returned بِحَسْرَةٍwith regret
ظَنَنْتُ بِهِمْ خَيْرَاً فَأُبْتُ بِحَسْرَةٍ
لَهَاit has شَجَنٌsorrow بَيْنَbetween الْجَوَانِحِthe ribs لاصِقُclinging
لَهَا شَجَنٌ بَيْنَ الْجَوَانِحِ لاصِقُ
I thought well of them, but came away with regret,
They swore an oath not to waver, but no sooner
Whose sorrow clings between my ribs.
Did dawn's light emerge except their women were divorced.
فَيَاso oh لَيْتَنِيif only I رَاجَعْتُI returned to حِلْمِيmy good sense وَلَمْand did not أَكُنْI was
فَيَا لَيْتَنِي رَاجَعْتُ حِلْمِي وَلَمْ أَكُنْ
زَعِيمَاًa leader وَعَاقَتْنِيand hindered me لِذَاكَin that matter الْعَوائِقُobstacles
زَعِيمَاً وَعَاقَتْنِي لِذَاكَ الْعَوائِقُ
If only I had returned to my good sense and had not been
They left without excuse, no camel bags visible,
A leader, and obstacles had kept me from it!
No egg white in the palms of dove handlers dripping.
وَيَاand oh لَيْتَنِيif only I أَصْبَحْتُI became فِيon رَأْسِthe summit of شَاهِقٍa lofty mountain
وَيَا لَيْتَنِي أَصْبَحْتُ فِي رَأْسِ شَاهِقٍ
وَلَمْand did not أَرَI see مَاwhat آلَتْcame إِلَيهِto it الْوَثَائِقُthe pledges
وَلَمْ أَرَ مَا آلَتْ إِلَيهِ الْوَثَائِقُ
And if only I had found myself atop a lofty peak,
But a rumor called them so they scattered,
And had not seen what became of the pledges.
As a flock of birds bolts with a loud cry.
هُمْthey عَرَّضُونِيexposed me لِلْقَنَاto the spears ثُمَّthen أَعْرَضُواturned away
هُمْ عَرَّضُونِي لِلْقَنَا ثُمَّ أَعْرَضُوا
سِرَاعاًin haste وَلَمْand not yet يَطْرُقْcome knocking مِنَof الشَّرِّevil طَارِقُa visitor
سِرَاعاً وَلَمْ يَطْرُقْ مِنَ الشَّرِّ طَارِقُ
They exposed me to the spears, then turned away,
How many escapees has he met without a pursuer,
In haste, though no visitor of evil had yet come knocking.
And how many deserters has he met though the mind escapes?
وَقَدْand indeed أَقْسَمُواthey swore أَلَّاthat not يَزُولُواthey retreat فَمَاso not بَدَاappeared
وَقَدْ أَقْسَمُوا أَلَّا يَزُولُوا فَمَا بَدَا
سَنَاthe glow of الْفَجْرِdawn إِلَّاexcept وَالنِّسَاءُand the women طَوَالِقُdivorced
سَنَا الْفَجْرِ إِلَّا وَالنِّسَاءُ طَوَالِقُ
They had sworn not to retreat; no sooner had there appeared
When they see a person they say "a rabble,"
The glow of dawn than the women were divorced.
Yet the cowardice of the youth is a shining sword to his eyes.
مَضَواthey departed غَيْرَnot مَعْذُورِينَexcused لاnot النَّقْعُthe dust سَاطِعٌrising
مَضَوا غَيْرَ مَعْذُورِينَ لا النَّقْعُ سَاطِعٌ
وَلاnor الْبِيضُthe bright swords فِيin أَيْدِيthe hands of الْكُمَاةِthe armored warriors دَوَالِقُdrawn
وَلا الْبِيضُ فِي أَيْدِي الْكُمَاةِ دَوَالِقُ
They departed without excuse: no dust was rising,
Lions near the tents among their women,
Nor were bright swords drawn in the armored warriors' hands.
But near fervor they are mewing old cats.
وَلَكِنْbut دَعَتْهُمْcalled them نَبْأَةٌa faint sound فَتَفَرَّقُواso they scattered
وَلَكِنْ دَعَتْهُمْ نَبْأَةٌ فَتَفَرَّقُوا
كَمَاas انْقَضَّswooped فيinto سِرْبٍa flock مِنَof الطَّيْرِbirds بَاشِقُa sparrowhawk
كَمَا انْقَضَّ في سِرْبٍ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ بَاشِقُ
But a faint sound called them, and they scattered,
When a man does not rise with his upright sword,
As when a sparrowhawk swoops into a flock of birds.
My, how can truths be protected?
فَكَمْso how many آبِقٍa runaway تَلْقَاهُyou meet him مِنْwith غَيْرِno طَارِدٍpursuer
فَكَمْ آبِقٍ تَلْقَاهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ طَارِدٍ
وَكَمْand how many واقِفٍone standing تَلْقَاهُyou meet him وَالْعَقْلُwhile the mind آبِقُa runaway
وَكَمْ واقِفٍ تَلْقَاهُ وَالْعَقْلُ آبِقُ
So how many a runaway you meet with no pursuer,
And how many a man you meet standing still, while his mind is a fugitive.
إِذَاwhen أَبْصَرُواthey see شَخْصَاًa figure يَقُولُونَthey say جَحْفَلٌa mighty army
إِذَا أَبْصَرُوا شَخْصَاً يَقُولُونَ جَحْفَلٌ
وَجُبْنُand cowardice الْفَتَىof a young man سَيْفٌa sword لِعَيْنَيْهِbefore his eyes بَارِقُflashing
وَجُبْنُ الْفَتَى سَيْفٌ لِعَيْنَيْهِ بَارِقُ
When they see a figure, they say, 'A mighty army!'
And a man's cowardice is a sword flashing before his eyes.
أُسُودٌlions لَدَىat الأَبْيَاتِthe homes بَيْنَamong نسَائِهِمْtheir women
أُسُودٌ لَدَى الأَبْيَاتِ بَيْنَ نسَائِهِمْ
وَلَكِنَّهُمْbut they عِنْدَin الْهيَاجِthe fray نَقَانِقُmale ostriches
وَلَكِنَّهُمْ عِنْدَ الْهيَاجِ نَقَانِقُ
Lions at home among their women,
But in the fray they are male ostriches.
إِذَاif الْمَرْءُa man لَمْnot يَنْهَضْrises بِقَائِمِwith the hilt of سَيْفِهِhis sword
إِذَا الْمَرْءُ لَمْ يَنْهَضْ بِقَائِمِ سَيْفِهِ
فَيَاthen oh لَيْتَif only شِعْرِيmy knowledge كَيْفَhow تُحْمَىare defended الْحَقَائِقُhonor and rights
فَيَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي كَيْفَ تُحْمَى الْحَقَائِقُ
If a man does not rise with his sword's hilt in hand,
Then how, I wonder, can honor and rights be defended?
Partial English translation: 54 of 62 Arabic lines translated.