أَزائِرٌa visitor? ياO خَيالُphantom أَمor عائِدa visitor to the sick
أَزائِرٌ يا خَيالُ أَم عائِد
أَمor عِندَin the opinion of مَولاكَyour master أَنَّنيthat I راقِدam asleep
أَم عِندَ مَولاكَ أَنَّني راقِد
Are you a visitor, O phantom, or one visiting the sick?
Visions, are you returning or going?
O Phantom, are you visiting or returning once again?
Or does your master believe that I am asleep?
Or are you with your Master while I slumber?
Or does your master deem that I am sleeping in my den?
لَيسَnot كَماas ظَنَّhe thought غَشيَةٌa fainting fit عَرَضَتcame on
لَيسَ كَما ظَنَّ غَشيَةٌ عَرَضَت
فَجِئتَنيso you came to me فيin خِلالِهاits midst قاصِدseeking me
فَجِئتَني في خِلالِها قاصِد
It is not as he thought: a fainting fit came over me,
It is not as I thought, an illusion occurred,
It is not as he thought; a swoon overcame me,
and you came to me in its midst, seeking me.
So you came to me amidst it with purpose.
And in that lapse, you came to me purposely.
عُدreturn وَأَعِدهاand bring it back فَحَبَّذاso how welcome تَلَفٌruin
عُد وَأَعِدها فَحَبَّذا تَلَفٌ
أَلصَقَpressed ثَديِيmy breast بِثَديِكِagainst your breast الناهِدswelling
أَلصَقَ ثَديِي بِثَديِكِ الناهِد
Return, and bring it back—how welcome the ruin
Return and repeat it, for it would be great
Return and bring it back! How sweet is that demise
that pressed my breast against your swelling breast.
If our breasts pressed, yours supple, mine firm.
That pressed my chest against your swelling breast to rise.
وَجُدتَand you gave freely فيهِin it بِماwith what يَشِحُّhe is stingy بِهِwith it
وَجُدتَ فيهِ بِما يَشِحُّ بِهِ
مِنَfrom الشَتيتِthe spaced teeth المُؤَشَّرِdelicately serrated البارِدcool
مِنَ الشَتيتِ المُؤَشَّرِ البارِد
And in it you freely gave what he begrudges,
You found in it, with what it lacks,
And you bestowed therein what is strictly withheld:
from those spaced, delicately serrated, cool teeth.
Of the cool, scattered, dotted fragments.
The moisture of cool, serrated teeth, unparalleled.
إِذاwhenever خَيالاتُهُhis phantoms أَطَفنَcame round بِناaround us
إِذا خَيالاتُهُ أَطَفنَ بِنا
أَضحَكَهُmade him laugh أَنَّنيthat I لَهاto them حامِدam grateful
أَضحَكَهُ أَنَّني لَها حامِد
Whenever his phantoms come round us,
When its visions envelop us,
When his phantoms encircle us around,
he laughs to find that I am grateful to them.
It laughs that I praise them.
It makes him laugh that I, for them, in praise am found.
وَقالَand he said إِنif كانَhe had قَدalready قَضىfulfilled أَرَباًa desire
وَقالَ إِن كانَ قَد قَضى أَرَباً
مِنّاfrom us فَماthen what بالُis the matter with شَوقِهِhis longing زائِدincreasing
مِنّا فَما بالُ شَوقِهِ زائِد
He says, ‘If he has fulfilled a desire
And says, “If we have spent time,
He asked: 'If he has quenched his heart's desire from us,
through us, why does his longing increase?’
Why does his passion persist?”
Why then does his longing wax so vigorous?'
لاnot أَجحَدُI deny الفَضلَthe kindness رُبَّماsometimes فَعَلَتthey did
لا أَجحَدُ الفَضلَ رُبَّما فَعَلَت
ماwhat لَمdid not يَكُنhe was فاعِلاًdoing it وَلاnor واعِدpromising it
ما لَم يَكُن فاعِلاً وَلا واعِد
I do not deny their kindness; sometimes they do
I cannot deny the merit, perhaps it did
I deny not the grace; perhaps the phantom achieved
what he neither does nor promises.
What no other did, nor promised.
What the real one neither did nor promised, nor conceived.
لاnot تَعرِفُdiscerns العَينُthe eye فَرقَa difference بَينِهِماbetween the two of them
لا تَعرِفُ العَينُ فَرقَ بَينِهِما
كُلٌّeach خَيالٌa phantom وِصالُهُunion with him نافِدrunning out
كُلٌّ خَيالٌ وِصالُهُ نافِد
The eye can discern no difference between the two:
The eye cannot tell the difference between them,
The eye discerns no difference between the two;
each is a phantom whose union comes to an end.
Both are visions, their union fleeting.
Each is a phantom, whose union bids adieu.
ياO طَفلَةَsoft الكَفِّthe hand عَبلَةَfull-fleshed الساعِدthe forearm
يا طَفلَةَ الكَفِّ عَبلَةَ الساعِد
عَلىupon البَعيرِthe camel المُقَلَّدِgarlanded الواخِدswift-striding
عَلى البَعيرِ المُقَلَّدِ الواخِد
O you, soft of hand and full of forearm,
O child of palms, wrists bound
O soft of palm, with forearm round and fair,
on the garlanded, swift-striding camel,
On the adorned, pacing camel.
Upon the garlanded camel, pacing there.
زيديincrease أَذىthe hurt of مُهجَتيmy heart أَزِدكِI will give you more هَوىًlove
زيدي أَذى مُهجَتي أَزِدكِ هَوىً
فَأَجهَلُfor the most foolish of الناسِpeople عاشِقٌa lover حاقِدresentful
فَأَجهَلُ الناسِ عاشِقٌ حاقِد
Increase the hurt of my heart; I will love you more,
Increase my torment, increase your love,
Increase my soul's torment, and I shall increase my love;
for the most foolish of people is a resentful lover.
That I remain the most ignorant, hateful lover.
The most foolish lover is he who bears a grudge above.
حَكَيتَyou imitated ياO لَيلُnight فَرعَهاher hair الوارِدflowing
حَكَيتَ يا لَيلُ فَرعَها الوارِد
فَاِحكِso imitate نَواهاher departure لِجَفنِيَfor my eyelid الساهِدsleepless
فَاِحكِ نَواها لِجَفنِيَ الساهِد
O night, you have imitated her flowing hair;
You narrated, oh night, her fresh stream,
O Night, you mimic her flowing hair so deep;
now imitate her departure for my sleepless eye.
So repeat her softness to my sleepy eyes.
Now mimic her distance to my eyes that cannot sleep.
طالَgrew long بُكائيmy weeping عَلىover تَذَكُّرِهاremembering her
طالَ بُكائي عَلى تَذَكُّرِها
وَصُلتَand you raged حَتّىuntil كِلاكُماboth of you واحِدone
وَصُلتَ حَتّى كِلاكُما واحِد
My weeping at the memory of her has grown long,
My crying for remembering her was long,
My weeping lasted long in memory of her grace,
and you raged until the two of you were one.
Until you both became one.
And you, O Night, joined in until you held one space.
ماwhat بالُails هَذيthese النُجومِstars حائِرَةًbewildered
ما بالُ هَذي النُجومِ حائِرَةً
كَأَنَّهاas though they were العُميُthe blind ماnot لَهاfor them قائِدa guide
كَأَنَّها العُميُ ما لَها قائِد
What ails these bewildered stars,
Why are these stars wandering astray?
What ails these stars? They seem bewildered, lost,
like blind people who have no guide,
As if they are the blind with no guide.
Like blind men without a guide, tossed and crossed.
أَوor عُصبَةٌa band مِنof مُلوكِkings ناحِيَةٍa region
أَو عُصبَةٌ مِن مُلوكِ ناحِيَةٍ
أَبوAbu (father of) شُجاعٍShuja عَلَيهِمُwith them واجِدangry
أَبو شُجاعٍ عَلَيهِمُ واجِد
or a band of kings from some region
Or a group of kings from a region,
Or like a band of petty kings from some domain,
with whom Abu Shuja is angry?
Abu Shuja’ upon them, prevailing.
With whom Abu Shuja' is wroth and does disdain.
إِنif هَرَبواthey flee أَدرَكواthey are overtaken وَإِنand if وَقَفواthey stand
إِن هَرَبوا أَدرَكوا وَإِن وَقَفوا
خَشواthey fear ذَهابِthe loss of الطَريفِnewly acquired wealth وَالتالِدand inherited wealth
خَشوا ذَهابِ الطَريفِ وَالتالِد
If they flee, they are overtaken; if they stand,
If they fled, he would catch them, if they stood
If they flee, they are overtaken; if they stand,
they fear losing newly gained and inherited wealth.
They feared the loss of nobility and ancestry.
They fear the loss of ancestral and new-won land.
فَهُمso they يُرَجّونَhope for عَفوَthe pardon of مُقتَدِرٍa powerful man
فَهُم يُرَجّونَ عَفوَ مُقتَدِرٍ
مُبارَكِblessed الوَجهِthe face جائِدٍgenerous ماجِدnoble
مُبارَكِ الوَجهِ جائِدٍ ماجِد
So they hope for the pardon of a mighty man,
So they hope for the pardon of the Almighty,
They hope for pardon from a potentate of might,
blessed of face, generous and noble,
The blessed faced, triumphant, glorious.
Blessed of face, generous, noble in the light.
أَبلَجَradiant-faced لَوif عاذَتِsought refuge الحَمامُthe doves بِهِin him
أَبلَجَ لَو عاذَتِ الحَمامُ بِهِ
ماnot خَشِيَتwould fear رامِياًan archer وَلاnor صائِدa hunter
ما خَشِيَت رامِياً وَلا صائِد
radiant: if doves took refuge with him,
Safe, even if doves sought refuge in Him,
Radiant is he; if doves sought refuge in his shade,
they would fear neither archer nor hunter.
From an archer or hunter they’d not dread.
Of archer or of hunter they would not be afraid.
أَوor رَعَتِgrazed الوَحشُwild beasts وَهيَwhile they تَذكُرُهُremember him
أَو رَعَتِ الوَحشُ وَهيَ تَذكُرُهُ
ماnot راعَهاfrightened them حابِلٌa trapper وَلاnor طارِدa pursuer
ما راعَها حابِلٌ وَلا طارِد
Or if wild beasts grazed while remembering him,
Even if beasts remembered Him,
Or if wild beasts grazed while keeping him in mind,
neither trapper nor pursuer would frighten them.
No snarer or driver they would fear.
No fear of trap or chaser would they ever find.
تُهديbrings لَهُto him كُلُّevery ساعَةٍhour خَبَراًnews
تُهدي لَهُ كُلُّ ساعَةٍ خَبَراً
عَنabout جَحفَلٍa mighty host تَحتَbeneath سَيفِهِhis sword بائِدperishing
عَن جَحفَلٍ تَحتَ سَيفِهِ بائِد
Every hour brings him news
Each moment they send news to Him,
Every passing hour brings him tidings
of a mighty host perishing beneath his sword,
Of hosts under His sword, humbled.
Of a vast army under his sword subsiding.
وَمَوضِعاًand a hastening rider فيon فِتانِthe saddle-cover of ناجِيَةٍa fleet she-camel
وَمَوضِعاً في فِتانِ ناجِيَةٍ
يَحمِلُcarrying فيin التاجِthe crown هامَةَthe head of العاقِدthe one who bound it on
يَحمِلُ في التاجِ هامَةَ العاقِد
and a rider hastening on a fleet she-camel's saddle-cover,
And of a position in the temptations of Najiya,
And news of heads, once crowned, now severed and disgraced,
carrying in a crown the head of the man who bound it on.
Bearing the turban, fastening the crown.
Within the saddle-bags of swift camels placed.
ياO عَضُداًa supporting arm رَبُّهُhis Lord بِهِthrough him العاضِدthe supporter
يا عَضُداً رَبُّهُ بِهِ العاضِد
وَسارِياًand a night-traveler يَبعَثُrouses القَطاsandgrouse الهاجِدsleeping
وَسارِياً يَبعَثُ القَطا الهاجِد
O arm, whose Lord gives support through him,
O arm with which God gives victory,
O Arm of the State, supported by the Lord's own hand,
and night-traveler who rouses sleeping sandgrouse,
O banner that raises the zealous warriors.
And night-traveler, rousing the sleeping sandgrouse in the land.
وَمُمطِرَand one raining down المَوتِdeath وَالحَياةِand life مَعاًtogether
وَمُمطِرَ المَوتِ وَالحَياةِ مَعاً
وَأَنتَand you لاnot بارِقٌflashing lightning وَلاnor راعِدthundering
وَأَنتَ لا بارِقٌ وَلا راعِد
and rain-bringer of death and life together,
You rain both death and life together,
You rain down death and life together on the plain,
though you neither flash lightning nor thunder.
While you are neither lightning nor thunder.
Though you are neither lightning flash nor thunder rain.
نِلتَyou inflicted harm وَماbut not نِلتَyou inflicted مِنof مَضَرَّةِharm to وَهWah- (name fragment)
نِلتَ وَما نِلتَ مِن مَضَرَّةِ وَه
شوذانَshudhan (name fragment) ماwhat نالَinflicted رَأيُهُhis judgment الفاسِدcorrupt
شوذانَ ما نالَ رَأيُهُ الفاسِد
You inflicted harm, but not as much on Wah-
You gained, and what you gained in the harm of Wahh,
You struck Wahshudhan, yet the harm you dealt was less
shudhan as his own corrupt judgment inflicted.
Aberrant what his corrupt view attained.
Than what his own corrupt resolve brought of distress.
يَبدَءُbegins مِنof كَيدِهِhis scheming بِغايَتِهِat its endpoint
يَبدَءُ مِن كَيدِهِ بِغايَتِهِ
وَإِنَّماand only الحَربُwar غايَةُthe final resort of الكائِدthe schemer
وَإِنَّما الحَربُ غايَةُ الكائِد
He begins his scheming at its endpoint,
He begins with his plot at his goal,
He begins his plot with its own tragic end in sight,
though war is only the schemer's last resort.
War itself is the goal of the plotter.
For war is but the plotter's undoing and his blight.
ماذاwhat عَلىwould it cost مَنthe one who أَتىcame يُحارِبُكُمto fight you
ماذا عَلى مَن أَتى يُحارِبُكُم
فَذَمَّthen condemned ماwhat اِختارَhe chose لَوif أَتىhe came وافِدa petitioner
فَذَمَّ ما اِختارَ لَو أَتى وافِد
What would it have cost the man who came to fight you,
What of one who came to fight you,
What harm would befall him who came to fight in vain,
and rued his choice, had he come as a petitioner,
Who blamed what he chose, had he come as an ally,
Had he come submitting, instead of choosing pain?
بِلاwithout سِلاحٍa weapon سِوىexcept رَجائِكُمhope in you
بِلا سِلاحٍ سِوى رَجائِكُم
فَفازِso he won بِالنَصرِvictory وَاِنثَنىand returned راشِدrightly guided
فَفازِ بِالنَصرِ وَاِنثَنى راشِد
with no weapon but hope in you,
With no weapon but your protection,
With no weapon but his hope in your high grace,
and won victory and returned rightly guided?
And won victory, turning guided.
He would have won victory and left with honored face.
يُقارِعُcontends with الدَهرَFate مَنwhoever يُقارِعُكُمcontends with you
يُقارِعُ الدَهرَ مَن يُقارِعُكُم
عَلىover مَكانِthe station of المَسودِthe subject وَالسائِدand the ruler
عَلى مَكانِ المَسودِ وَالسائِد
Whoever contends with you contends with Fate
He contends with fate, who contends with you,
He battles Fate itself who dares to battle you,
over the stations of subject and sovereign.
In the darkened, subjugated place.
Seeking the master's place, which is not his due.
وَلَيتَyou directed يَوميthe two days of فَناءِthe annihilation of عَسكَرِهِhis army
وَلَيتَ يَومي فَناءِ عَسكَرِهِ
وَلَمand not تَكُنyou were دانِياًnearby وَلاnor شاهِدpresent
وَلَم تَكُن دانِياً وَلا شاهِد
You directed the two days of his army's annihilation,
Would that my day were the ruin of their camp,
I wish I saw the day his camp was overrun,
though you were neither nearby nor present.
Without me there, neither witness nor seer.
Though you were far away, and the deed by others done.
وَلَمand not يَغِبwas absent غائِبٌan absent man خَليفَتُهُhis deputy
وَلَم يَغِب غائِبٌ خَليفَتُهُ
جَيشُthe army of أَبيهِhis father وَجَدُّهُand his good fortune الصاعِدrising
جَيشُ أَبيهِ وَجَدُّهُ الصاعِد
A man is not absent when his deputy
Without an absent one whose successor,
No ruler is truly absent if he leaves behind
is his father's army and his rising good fortune,
Was the army of his father and noble ancestors.
His father's army and a fortune unconfined.
وَكُلُّand every خَطِّيَّةٍKhatti spear مُثَقَّفَةٍstraightened
وَكُلُّ خَطِّيَّةٍ مُثَقَّفَةٍ
يَهُزُّهاbrandishes it مارِدٌa mighty warrior عَلىupon مارِدa mighty steed
يَهُزُّها مارِدٌ عَلى مارِد
and every straightened Khatti spear,
And every sinful miscreant,
And every straightened spear of Samrah, true and strong,
brandished by a mighty warrior on a mighty steed.
Shaken by giant upon giant.
Wielded by giants against giants in the throng.
سَوافِكٌblood-shedders ماnot يَدَعنَleave فاصِلَةًan interval
سَوافِكٌ ما يَدَعنَ فاصِلَةً
بَينَbetween طَرِيِّfresh الدِماءِblood وَالجاسِدand the congealed
بَينَ طَرِيِّ الدِماءِ وَالجاسِد
Blood-shedders, they leave no interval
Your swords, leaving no space
Shedding blood, they leave no interval or space
between fresh blood and congealed blood.
Between the spiller and spilled blood.
Between the fresh gore and the dry upon the face.
إِذاwhen المَناياdeaths بَدَتappeared فَدَعَوتُهاthen I summoned them
إِذا المَنايا بَدَت فَدَعَوتُها
أُبدِلَwas given instead نوناًa nun (n) بِدالِهِin place of his dal (d) الحائِدthe evader
أُبدِلَ نوناً بِدالِهِ الحائِد
When deaths appear and I summon them,
When misfortunes appear I call them,
When fates appeared, you called them, and the ending changed:
the evader (ha'id) becomes doomed (ha'in): his dal is replaced by nun.
Changing the noon letter with its straying one.
The 'D' of his 'Defiance' to the 'N' of 'Doom' arranged.
إِذاwhen دَرىlearned الحِصنُthe fortress مَنwho رَماهُstruck it بِهاwith them
إِذا دَرى الحِصنُ مَن رَماهُ بِها
خَرَّfell لَهاbefore them فيin أَساسِهِits foundations ساجِدprostrate
خَرَّ لَها في أَساسِهِ ساجِد
When the fortress learns who struck it with them,
When the fortress sees who struck it with them,
If the fortress knew who cast these fates its way,
it falls prostrate before them, down to its foundations.
It kneels to them, prostrate in its foundation.
It would have crumbled, prostrate, in the clay.
ماnot كانَتِwas الطَرمُal-Tarm فيamid عَجاجَتِهاits dust-cloud
ما كانَتِ الطَرمُ في عَجاجَتِها
إِلّاanything but بَعيراًa camel أَضَلَّهُhad lost it ناشِدa seeker
إِلّا بَعيراً أَضَلَّهُ ناشِد
Al-Tarm, amid its dust-cloud, was nothing
The catapults in their clamor,
Al-Tarm, amidst the dust of war, appeared to be
but a camel that its seeker had lost.
Were but camels led astray by their guide.
Nothing but a stray camel found by destiny.
تَسأَلُyou ask أَهلَthe people of القِلاعِthe fortresses عَنabout مَلِكٍa king
تَسأَلُ أَهلَ القِلاعِ عَن مَلِكٍ
قَدalready مَسَخَتهُyou transformed him نَعامَةًan ostrich شارِدfleeing
قَد مَسَخَتهُ نَعامَةً شارِد
You ask the people of the fortresses about a king
They ask the people of citadels about a king,
You ask the castle dwellers where their king has gone;
whom you have turned into a fleeing ostrich.
Whom they turned into a lost ostrich.
A fleeing ostrich now, wandering the wastes alone.
تَستَوحِشُrecoils الأَرضُthe earth أَنto تَقِرَّsettle بِهِwith him
تَستَوحِشُ الأَرضُ أَن تَقِرَّ بِهِ
فَكُلُّهاso all of it مُنكَرٌunfamiliar لَهُto him جاحِدdisowning
فَكُلُّها مُنكَرٌ لَهُ جاحِد
The earth recoils from letting him settle;
The land feels estranged at his presence,
The very earth repels his rest, disdains his state;
every part of it is unfamiliar to him and disowns him.
All deny and disavow him.
All lands deny him shelter, locking every gate.
فَلاso no مُشادٌlofty building وَلاnor مَشيدٌplastered building حَمىprotected
فَلا مُشادٌ وَلا مَشيدٌ حَمى
وَلاnor مَشيدٌa plastered building أَغنىavailed وَلاnor شائِدa builder
وَلا مَشيدٌ أَغنى وَلا شائِد
No lofty building or plastered wall sheltered him,
So neither praiser nor built to protect remains,
No lofty tower, no fortress built on high,
nor did a plastered wall avail him, nor a builder.
Nor builder who enriched or led.
Could save him, nor could any builder’s art reply.
فَاِغتَظso be enraged بِقَومٍat a people وَهشوذَWahshudh (shortened name) ماnot خُلِقواthey were created
فَاِغتَظ بِقَومٍ وَهشوذَ ما خُلِقوا
إِلّاexcept لِغَيظِto enrage العَدوِّthe enemy وَالحاسِدand the envious
إِلّا لِغَيظِ العَدوِّ وَالحاسِد
So rage at a people, Wahshudh, who were created
So he is enraged at people who were only created,
So rage at such a people, O Wahshudhan, in vain;
only to enrage the enemy and the envious.
To anger the enemy and envious.
Created but to cause the enemy and envier pain.
رَأَوكَthey saw you لَمّاwhen بَلَوكَthey tested you نابِتَةًa plant
رَأَوكَ لَمّا بَلَوكَ نابِتَةً
يَأكُلُهاeats it قَبلَbefore أَهلِهِhis people الرائِدthe pasture-scout
يَأكُلُها قَبلَ أَهلِهِ الرائِد
When they tested you, they found you a plant
They saw you, when tried, flourishing,
They saw you, when they tested you, as merely weed,
that the pasture-scout eats before his people.
And ate you before your people, the pioneers.
On which the scout, before his tribe, begins to feed.
وَخَلِّand leave زِيّاًa garb لِمَنto whoever يُحَقِّقَهُmakes it genuine
وَخَلِّ زِيّاً لِمَن يُحَقِّقَهُ
ماnot كُلُّeveryone دامٍbleeding جَبينُهُhis forehead عابِدa worshipper
ما كُلُّ دامٍ جَبينُهُ عابِد
And leave the garb to one who makes it genuine:
Leave the garb for one who actualizes it,
Abandon then a guise that belongs to the true;
not everyone whose forehead bleeds is a worshipper.
Not all stoic-faced are worshipers.
Not every bleeding forehead marks a saintly view.
إِنif كانَhe was لَمnot يَعمِدِintend الأَميرُthe prince لِماtoward what
إِن كانَ لَم يَعمِدِ الأَميرُ لِما
لَقيتَyou suffered مِنهُfrom him فَيُمنُهُthen his good fortune عامِدintending it
لَقيتَ مِنهُ فَيُمنُهُ عامِد
If the prince did not intend what
If the Prince did not intend what
If the Prince did not intend the blow you met,
you suffered at his hands, his good fortune intended it.
You received from him, may he guide him.
Then know his Fortune struck, and his aim was set.
يُقلِقُهُdisturbs him الصُبحُdawn لاnot يَرىhe sees مَعَهُwith it
يُقلِقُهُ الصُبحُ لا يَرى مَعَهُ
بُشرىglad tidings بِفَتحٍof conquest كَأَنَّهُas though he were فاقِدsuffering a loss
بُشرى بِفَتحٍ كَأَنَّهُ فاقِد
Dawn disturbs him when he sees with it no
Dawn disturbs him, he sees with it
The morning vexes him if it brings no tale
glad tidings of conquest, as though he had suffered a loss.
No good tidings, as if he has lost.
Of conquest won, as if his powers fail.
وَالأَمرُand the outcome لِلَّهِbelongs to God رُبَّmany a مُجتَهِدٍdiligent striver
وَالأَمرُ لِلَّهِ رُبَّ مُجتَهِدٍ
ماnot خابَfailed إِلّاexcept لِأَنَّهُbecause he جاهِدstrove
ما خابَ إِلّا لِأَنَّهُ جاهِد
Yet the outcome belongs to God: many a striver
The matter belongs to God, Lord of the striving,
The command belongs to God; how many strove in vain,
has failed only because he strove.
None despair except those who struggle.
And failed precisely because they strove with such strain.
وَمُتَّقٍand a wary man وَالسِهامُwhile the arrows مُرسَلَةٌare loosed
وَمُتَّقٍ وَالسِهامُ مُرسَلَةٌ
يَحيدُswerves عَنaway from حابِضٍan arrow falling short إِلىtoward صارِدan arrow striking home
يَحيدُ عَن حابِضٍ إِلى صارِد
And many a wary man, while arrows are flying,
And the God-fearing, as arrows are shot,
And he who guards himself when arrows fly around,
swerves from an arrow that would miss toward one that strikes.
Deflecting from the crouched to the aiming.
Dodges the missing shaft, only to be found.
فَلاso not يُبَلcare قاتِلٌa slayer of أَعاديهِhis enemies
فَلا يُبَل قاتِلٌ أَعاديهِ
أَقائِماًwhether standing نالَhe attained ذاكَthat أَمor قاعِدsitting
أَقائِماً نالَ ذاكَ أَم قاعِد
So let the slayer of his enemies not care
So I do not mind a killer of my enemies,
So let the slayer of his foes not care a whit,
whether he achieved it standing or sitting.
Whether he stands or sits.
Whether he won the day while standing or whilst he sit.
لَيتَwould that ثَنائيmy praise الَّذيwhich أَصوغُI fashion فِدىa ransom for
لَيتَ ثَنائي الَّذي أَصوغُ فِدى
مَنthe one who صيغَwas fashioned فيهِabout him فَإِنَّهُfor it خالِدimmortal
مَن صيغَ فيهِ فَإِنَّهُ خالِد
Would that the praise I fashion were a ransom
Would that my praise that I compose were ransom,
Would that the praise I craft could be a ransom paid
for the man it praises, for that praise is immortal.
For one whose praise in it is eternal.
For him I praise—for he is eternal and unswayed.
لَوَيتُهُI bent it دُملُجاًan armlet عَلىaround عَضُدٍan upper arm
لَوَيتُهُ دُملُجاً عَلى عَضُدٍ
لِدَولَةٍof a state رُكنُهاits pillar لَهُto him والِدa father
لِدَولَةٍ رُكنُها لَهُ والِد
I bent it into an armlet around the Arm
Would that it were a eulogy upon the shoulder,
I've wound it like a bracelet 'round the Arm of State,
of the State, whose Pillar is his father.
Of a state whose pillar is his father.
For a realm whose pillar stands as father to its fate.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model. Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.