هَلis there لِعَهدٍfor a time قَدalready مَضىpassed وَالدَهرُwhile fortune سَمحُwas kind
هَل لِعَهدٍ قَد مَضى وَالدَهرُ سَمحُ
رَجعَةٌa return يَوماًone day وَفيwhile in الأَيّامِthe days فَسحُroom
رَجعَةٌ يَوماً وَفي الأَيّامِ فَسحُ
Can a time now past, when fortune was kind,
Is there a return for an era passed when time was generous,
Return one day, while the days still offer room?
while the days still hold room for hope?
كَيso that أُداويI may heal القَلبَthe heart مِنof بَرحِthe torment الأَسىof sorrow
كَي أُداوي القَلبَ مِن بَرحِ الأَسى
إِنَّindeed صَفوَthe serenity الدَهرِof fortune يَوماًfor one day مِنهُfrom it رِبحُa gain
إِنَّ صَفوَ الدَهرِ يَوماً مِنهُ رِبحُ
That I might heal my heart of sorrow's torment—
That I might heal my heart from the severity of grief;
For one serene day from fortune is a gain.
truly, a single day of time's purity is a prize.
ياO نَدامايَmy boon companions وَياand O أَهلَpeople الوَفاof loyalty
يا نَدامايَ وَيا أَهلَ الوَفا
أَنتُمُyou ليto me دونَunlike مَنthe one أَهواهُI love him نُصحُsincere counselors
أَنتُمُ لي دونَ مَن أَهواهُ نُصحُ
O my boon companions, O people of loyalty,
O my boon companions, O people of fidelity,
You, unlike the one I love, are sincere counselors to me.
you are my true counselors regarding the one I desire.
كَرِّرواrepeat أَخبارَthe tales سِلعٍof Silʿ وَالحِمىand al-Hima (protected pasture)
كَرِّروا أَخبارَ سِلعٍ وَالحِمى
حَيثُsince فيin تَكريرِهاrepeating them لِلهَمِّfor sorrow نَزحٌdraining away
حَيثُ في تَكريرِها لِلهَمِّ نَزحٌ
Repeat the tales of Silʿ and al-Hima,
Repeat to me the tidings of Sala‘ and al-Hima,
For repeating them drains away sorrow.
for in their repetition lies the draining away of sorrow.
أَوor فَمُرّواthen pass بيwith me عَلىby رَسمٍa campsite's trace عَفاfaded
أَو فَمُرّوا بي عَلى رَسمٍ عَفا
كانَthere was ليfor me فهِin it (apparently فيه) معwith اللَذّاتِpleasures صُلحُpeace
كانَ لي فهِ مع اللَذّاتِ صُلحُ
Or take me past a faded campsite,
Or take me past a ruined campsite, now effaced,
Where I once lived at peace with pleasures.
where I once held a truce with life’s pleasures.
لَعِبَتplayed هائِجَةُthe raging force الريحِof the wind بِهِupon it
لَعِبَت هائِجَةُ الريحِ بِهِ
وَمُسِفٌّand a low-hanging cloud وَدقُهُits rain هَطلٌtorrential وَسحُّand pouring
وَمُسِفٌّ وَدقُهُ هَطلٌ وَسحُّ
The raging wind has played upon it,
The raging winds have toyed with it,
And a low-hanging cloud, its rain torrential and pouring.
as has the low-hanging cloud pouring forth its torrential rain.
كَمhow many تَمَشّىwalked فيهِin it غيدٌgraceful women كالمَهاlike oryx
كَم تَمَشّى فيهِ غيدٌ كالمَها
هُيَّفُslender الأَوساطِof waist وَالأَكفالُand the hips رُجحُheavy
هُيَّفُ الأَوساطِ وَالأَكفالُ رُجحُ
How many graceful women, like oryx, walked there,
How often have maidens walked there like wild oryxes,
Slender of waist, with heavy hips.
slender of waist and heavy of hip.
إِنif تَبَدَّتthey appeared فَبُدورٌthen full moons طُلَّعٌrising
إِن تَبَدَّت فَبُدورٌ طُلَّعٌ
قَدindeed كَساهاclothed them مِنof أَثيثِluxuriant الفَرعِhair جُنحnight-darkness
قَد كَساها مِن أَثيثِ الفَرعِ جُنح
When they appeared, they were rising full moons,
If they appeared, they were rising full moons,
Clad in night-darkness from their luxuriant hair.
clothed in the darkness of thick, flowing hair.
أَوor تَثَنَّتthey swayed فَكَأَغصانِthen like boughs النَقاof the dunes
أَو تَثَنَّت فَكَأَغصانِ النَقا
هَزَّهاstirred them مِنfrom خَمرَةِthe wine الإِعجابِof self-admiration رَنحُa drunken sway
هَزَّها مِن خَمرَةِ الإِعجابِ رَنحُ
Or, when they swayed, like boughs upon the dunes,
Or if they swayed, they were like boughs upon a sand dune,
A drunken sway from the wine of self-admiration stirred them.
shaken by the intoxicating sway of admiration.
ذاكَthat أَيّامَin the days الصِباof youth سُقيَmay be watered الصِباyouth
ذاكَ أَيّامَ الصِبا سُقيَ الصِبا
حينَwhen لَيلُthe night الفَودِof the temple-hair لمdid not يَنسَخهُefface it صُبحُdawn
حينَ لَيلُ الفَودِ لم يَنسَخهُ صُبحُ
That was in youth's days—may rain bless youth!
That was in the days of youth—may youth be blessed with rain—
When dawn had not yet effaced the night at my temples.
when the night of my hair had not yet been erased by the dawn of age.
تَوبَةًrepentance رَبّيmy Lord وَغُفراناًand forgiveness لِماfor what
تَوبَةً رَبّي وَغُفراناً لِما
قُلتُI said شِعراًas verse وَهوَand it is تَشبيبٌamorous poetry وَمَزحُand jest
قُلتُ شِعراً وَهوَ تَشبيبٌ وَمَزحُ
Grant me repentance, my Lord, and forgiveness for what
I ask repentance, my Lord, and forgiveness for what
I uttered in verse—love-song and jest.
I spoke in poetry of amatory prelude and jest.
وَخُذواand receive مَدحَpraise الهُمامِof the noble hero المُجتَبيthe chosen
وَخُذوا مَدحَ الهُمامِ المُجتَبي
مِنfrom أَرومٍa lineage سَعيُهُمtheir striving لِلدّينِfor the faith نُجحُsuccess
مِن أَرومٍ سَعيُهُم لِلدّينِ نُجحُ
Now receive praise of the chosen, noble hero,
Receive instead the praise of the chosen hero,
From a lineage whose striving brings success to the faith.
from a lineage whose endeavor for the Faith brings success.
هُمthey أَشادواraised لِلهُدىfor guidance أَعلامَهُits standards
هُم أَشادوا لِلهُدى أَعلامَهُ
وَعَلاand rose high مِنهُمfrom them بهِthrough it فيon الأَرضِthe earth صَرحُan edifice
وَعَلا مِنهُم بهِ في الأَرضِ صَرحُ
They raised the standards of guidance,
They raised high the banners of guidance,
And through them its edifice rose high upon the earth.
and through them, a lofty edifice rose upon the earth.
وَجَنواand they reaped بِالسُمرِwith dusky spears أَثمارِthe fruits العُلاof eminence
وَجَنوا بِالسُمرِ أَثمارِ العُلا
إِنَّindeed أَثمانَthe prices العُلاof eminence سَيفٌa sword وَرُمحُand a spear
إِنَّ أَثمانَ العُلا سَيفٌ وَرُمحُ
With dusky spears they reaped the fruits of eminence;
They harvested the fruits of glory with tawny spears;
For the price of eminence is sword and spear.
indeed, the price of glory is the sword and the lance.
صَحِبواthey accompanied الدُنياthe world فَكانواand became حُسنَهاits beauty
صَحِبوا الدُنيا فَكانوا حُسنَها
وَهمُand they فيهاin it لَهاfor it عِزٌّmight وَفَتحُand victory
وَهمُ فيها لَها عِزٌّ وَفَتحُ
They kept the world company and became its beauty,
They accompanied the world and became its beauty;
And while in it, they were its might and victory.
they are its might and its victory.
وَتَوَلّىand took command بَعدَهُمafter them روحُthe spirit العُلاof eminence
وَتَوَلّى بَعدَهُم روحُ العُلا
لِلهُدىfor guidance يُعليhe raises high وَلِلأَوثانِand as for idols يَمحوhe effaces
لِلهُدى يُعلي وَلِلأَوثانِ يَمحو
After them, the spirit of greatness took command,
The Spirit of Exaltation took command after them,
Raising guidance high and wiping out idols.
raising up guidance and obliterating idols.
مَلِكٌa king لَوif كانَhe had lived فيin عَصرٍan age مَضىgone by
مَلِكٌ لَو كانَ في عَصرٍ مَضى
لَمnot يَكُنwould there be فيin غَيرِهِanyone other than him لِلنّاسِfor people مَدحُpraise
لَم يَكُن في غَيرِهِ لِلنّاسِ مَدحُ
A king who, had he lived in an age gone by,
A King who, had he lived in an era passed,
Would have left people no one else to praise.
would have left no praise for any other among men.
مَلكَhe possessed الدُنياthe world فَلَمyet did not يَبخَلact miserly بِهاwith it
مَلكَ الدُنيا فَلَم يَبخَل بِها
لاno وَلمand did not يَسمَعheed عَذولاًa censurer لَوeven if يُلِحُّhe persisted
لا وَلم يَسمَع عَذولاً لَو يُلِحُّ
He possessed the world, yet was not miserly with it,
He possessed the world yet hoarded it not,
No, nor did he heed a censurer, however insistent.
nor did he heed the scolder, no matter how he persisted.
إِنَّماindeed عَبدُAbd العَزيزِal-Aziz المُفتَدىwhom we would ransom
إِنَّما عَبدُ العَزيزِ المُفتَدى
مِنfrom عَظيمِthe One of mighty المَنِّbounty إِحسانٌkindness وَمَنحُand gifts
مِن عَظيمِ المَنِّ إِحسانٌ وَمَنحُ
Truly, Abd al-Aziz, whom we would ransom with our lives,
Verily, Abdulaziz, the ransomed one,
Is kindness and gifts from the One of mighty bounty.
is but beneficence and a gift from the Great Bestower.
وَكَذاand likewise أَنجالهُhis sons أُسدُlions الوَغىof battle
وَكَذا أَنجالهُ أُسدُ الوَغى
حينَwhen رجعُthe echo القَولِof speech تَندابٌrallying cries وَضَبحand horses' panting
حينَ رجعُ القَولِ تَندابٌ وَضَبح
So too his sons, the lions of battle,
And likewise his sons, lions of the fray,
When words echo as rallying cries and horses' panting.
when the only exchange of speech is the wailing of war and the panting of steeds.
قَدindeed سَبَرناwe sounded مَجدَthe glory قَومٍof a people قَدalready مَضىpassed away
قَد سَبَرنا مَجدَ قَومٍ قَد مَضى
لَهُمُfor them فيon الأَرضِthe earth إِيغالٌfar-ranging advance وَكَدحُand toil
لَهُمُ في الأَرضِ إِيغالٌ وَكَدحُ
We have sounded the glory of a people now gone,
We have gauged the glory of a people passed,
Who ranged far across the earth and toiled.
who strove deep and toiled hard upon the earth.
وَنَظَرناand we examined مَجدَthe glory قَومٍof a people بَعدَهُمafter them
وَنَظَرنا مَجدَ قَومٍ بَعدَهُم
نَظَراًan appraisal ماno فيهِin it إِفراطٌexaggeration وَشَطحُand wild flights
نَظَراً ما فيهِ إِفراطٌ وَشَطحُ
And we examined the glory of those who followed,
And we observed the glory of those who followed,
With an appraisal free of exaggeration and wild flights.
with a gaze free from excess or exaggeration.
فَعَلاthen surpassed مَجدُthe glory سُعودٍof Saud مَجدَهُمtheir glory
فَعَلا مَجدُ سُعودٍ مَجدَهُم
إِنَّهُindeed he فيin كَسبِهِhis pursuit العَلياof the heights مُلِّحُunrelenting
إِنَّهُ في كَسبِهِ العَليا مُلِّحُ
Saud's glory rose above their glory;
Thus the glory of Saud rose above their glory;
He is unrelenting in his pursuit of the heights.
truly, he is relentless in the pursuit of eminence.
أَريحيٌّmagnanimous إِنif سَطاhe strikes أَوor إِنif عَطاhe gives
أَريحيٌّ إِن سَطا أَو إِن عَطا
فَهوَthen he is لَيثٌa lion فهوَthen he is شُؤبوبٌa rainburst يَسُحُّpouring down
فَهوَ لَيثٌ فهوَ شُؤبوبٌ يَسُحُّ
Magnanimous whether he strikes or gives,
A magnanimous soul—when he strikes, he is a lion;
He is a lion; he is a downpour pouring forth.
when he gives, he is a torrential rain.
رامَsought قَومٌsome people أَنto يَنالواattain سَعيَهُhis endeavor
رامَ قَومٌ أَن يَنالوا سَعيَهُ
فَإِذاand behold هُمthey فيin صَحاريthe deserts العَجزِof helplessness رُزحُexhausted
فَإِذا هُم في صَحاري العَجزِ رُزحُ
Some sought to match his endeavors,
Others sought to reach his stride,
Only to lie exhausted in the deserts of helplessness.
only to find themselves fallen in the deserts of incapacity.
مِسعرُkindler الهَيجاءِof battle's blaze فيon يَومِthe day الوَغىof war
مِسعرُ الهَيجاءِ في يَومِ الوَغى
مُمطِرُshowering النَعماءِblessings وَالأَيّامُwhile the days كُلحُgrim-faced
مُمطِرُ النَعماءِ وَالأَيّامُ كُلحُ
He kindles battle's blaze on the day of war,
The kindler of battle on the day of war,
And showers blessings when the days are grim-faced.
the rain-bringer of grace when the days are grim and frowning.
ذُخرُهُhis treasure جُردُsleek المَذاكيmature steeds جَريُهاtheir galloping
ذُخرُهُ جُردُ المَذاكي جَريُها
فيin دَمِthe blood الأَعداءِof enemies يَومَon the day الرَوعِof dread سَبحُswimming
في دَمِ الأَعداءِ يَومَ الرَوعِ سَبحُ
His treasure is sleek, mature steeds, whose galloping
His store is the sleek-coated steeds,
Is swimming in enemy blood on the day of dread.
swimming through the blood of enemies on the day of terror.
لاnot يَنالُattains المَجدَglory غِرٌّa naive man بِالمُنىthrough wishes
لا يَنالُ المَجدَ غِرٌّ بِالمُنى
لاno وَلاnor مَنone طَبعُهُhis nature جُبنٌcowardice وَشحُّand miserliness
لا وَلا مَن طَبعُهُ جُبنٌ وَشحُّ
No naive man wins glory through wishes,
Glory is not attained by the naive through mere wishes,
No, nor one whose nature is cowardice and miserliness.
nor by him whose nature is cowardice and greed.
سَلask بِهِabout him مِصراًEgypt وَمَنand whoever فيin صُقعِهاits region
سَل بِهِ مِصراً وَمَن في صُقعِها
تَدرِyou will learn كَيفَhow الفَخرُpride وَالمَجدُand glory الأَصَحُّthe truest
تَدرِ كَيفَ الفَخرُ وَالمَجدُ الأَصَحُّ
Ask Egypt about him, and those within its bounds;
Ask Egypt and all within her bounds of him,
You will learn what pride and the truest glory are.
and you shall know the meaning of true pride and authentic glory.
عَكَفواthey gathered زَحماًin throngs عَلىat اَبوابِهِhis gates
عَكَفوا زَحماً عَلى اَبوابِهِ
زَحمَlike the crowding وِردِof a watering herd الخَمسon the fifth day إِذاwhen يَحدوهُdrives it لَفحُscorching heat
زَحمَ وِردِ الخَمس إِذا يَحدوهُ لَفحُ
They thronged his gates, crowding close,
They crowded in throngs at his gates,
Like camels at their fifth-day watering, driven by scorching heat.
like thirsty camels crowding the water trough, driven by the scorching wind.
ماnever رَأواthey saw مِنfrom قَبلِهِbefore him شِبهاًa likeness لهُto him
ما رَأوا مِن قَبلِهِ شِبهاً لهُ
حارَتِwere bewildered الأَلبابُthe minds وَالأَبصارُwhile the eyes طُمحُwere raised
حارَتِ الأَلبابُ وَالأَبصارُ طُمحُ
Before him, they had never seen his like;
Never before had they seen his like;
Minds were bewildered, while eyes gazed upward.
minds were bewildered and eyes fixed in awe.
نَظَرواthey beheld لَيثاًa lion وَبَدراًand a full moon طالِعاًrising
نَظَروا لَيثاً وَبَدراً طالِعاً
وَبناناًand fingers بِالعَطاwith gifts وَطفاrain-laden like clouds تَسُحُّpouring forth
وَبناناً بِالعَطا وَطفا تَسُحُّ
They beheld a lion and a rising full moon,
They beheld a lion and a rising moon,
And fingers, like rain-laden clouds, pouring gifts.
and fingers that poured forth generosity like rain.
مَدَّتِextended النِيَلنِthe two Niles (uncertain spelling) فيthroughout أَرجائِهاher bounds
مَدَّتِ النِيَلنِ في أَرجائِها
ياO لهُfor it فَخرٌa glory لهاfor her ماas long as دامَlasts لمحُa glance
يا لهُ فَخرٌ لها ما دامَ لمحُ
They sent two Niles flowing throughout her bounds [text uncertain].
His bounty extended the two Niles across her lands—
What glory for her, as long as eyes can see!
oh, what pride is hers as long as vision lasts.
وَتَفاوَتاand the two differed فيin الجَريَflowing ذاthis one تِبرٌgold وَذاand this one
وَتَفاوَتا في الجَريَ ذا تِبرٌ وَذا
فِعلُهُits effect فيon الأَرضِthe earth إِشكالٌperplexity وَمِلحُand salt
فِعلُهُ في الأَرضِ إِشكالٌ وَمِلحُ
Yet their flows differed: this one gold, the other—
They differed in their currents: the one is gold dust,
Its effect on earth is perplexity and salt [wording unclear].
while the other leaves a mark of wonder and grace upon the earth.
ياO بَنيsons الإِسلامِof Islam هَلis there مِنany سامِعٍlistener
يا بَني الإِسلامِ هَل مِن سامِعٍ
لِمَقالٍto a statement ماnot بهِin it هَزلٌfrivolity وَمَزحُand jest
لِمَقالٍ ما بهِ هَزلٌ وَمَزحُ
O sons of Islam, is there anyone who will listen
O sons of Islam, is there one who will listen
To words containing neither frivolity nor jest?
to words that hold no jest nor mockery?
قَدindeed رَأىhas judged فيهِin him الإِمامُthe imam المُرتَضىthe esteemed
قَد رَأى فيهِ الإِمامُ المُرتَضى
أَنَّهُthat he لِلدّينِfor the faith وَالدُنياand worldly affairs يَصِحُّis fit
أَنَّهُ لِلدّينِ وَالدُنيا يَصِحُّ
The esteemed imam has judged him
The approved Imam has deemed it
To be fit for both faith and worldly affairs.
sound for both the Faith and the world.
أَسنِدواentrust الأَمرِauthority إِلَيهِto him وَاِسمَعواand listen
أَسنِدوا الأَمرِ إِلَيهِ وَاِسمَعوا
أَنَّthat ذاthis شَرطٌa condition لهُfor it فيin الدينِthe faith شَرحُan explanation
أَنَّ ذا شَرطٌ لهُ في الدينِ شَرحُ
Entrust authority to him, and hear:
Entrust the command to him and obey,
This is a condition expounded in the faith.
for this is a condition clearly expounded in the Faith.
وَصلاةُand the blessing اللَهِof God رَبّيmy Lord دائِماًforever
وَصلاةُ اللَهِ رَبّي دائِماً
تَتَغَشّىenfold المُصطَفىthe Chosen One ماas long as اِهتَزَّsways سَرحُa tree
تَتَغَشّى المُصطَفى ما اِهتَزَّ سَرحُ
And may the blessing of God, my Lord, forever
And may the blessings of Allah, my Lord, eternally
Enfold the Chosen One, as long as trees sway,
envelop the Chosen One, as long as the tall trees sway.
وَكَذاand likewise أَصحابَهُhis companions مَعwith آلهِhis family
وَكَذا أَصحابَهُ مَع آلهِ
ماas long as عَلاrises فيamong مُرجَحِنِّthe heavy, swaying الدَوحِgreat trees صَدحُbirdsong
ما عَلا في مُرجَحِنِّ الدَوحِ صَدحُ
And likewise his companions, together with his family,
And likewise his Companions and his Kin,
As long as birdsong rises among the heavy, swaying trees.
as long as the birdsong rises from the dense, dark boughs.
Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.