إِنif يَكُنis صَبرُpatience ذيone with الرَزِيَّةِcalamity فَضلاًa virtue
إِن يَكُن صَبرُ ذي الرَزِيَّةِ فَضلاً
تَكُنِyou would be الأَفضَلَthe most virtuous الأَعَزَّthe mightiest الأَجَلّاthe most august
تَكُنِ الأَفضَلَ الأَعَزَّ الأَجَلّا
If patience in the afflicted is a virtue,
If the patience of the stricken is a grace,
you are the most virtuous, the mightiest, the most august.
Then you are the noblest, the mightiest, the most sublime.
أَنتَyou ياO فَوقَabove أَنthat تُعَزّىyou are consoled عَنِfor الأَحـloved ones (start)
أَنتَ يا فَوقَ أَن تُعَزّى عَنِ الأَحـ
ـبابِloved ones (end) فَوقَabove الَّذيthe one who يُعَزّيكَconsoles you عَقلاin understanding
ـبابِ فَوقَ الَّذي يُعَزّيكَ عَقلا
You, O one beyond consolation for loved ones,
You who stand above all solace for lost kin,
are above your consoler in understanding.
Surpassing in wisdom he who seeks to comfort you.
وَبِأَلفاظِكَand by your words اِهتَدىhe was guided فَإِذاso when عَزhe consoles (start)
وَبِأَلفاظِكَ اِهتَدى فَإِذا عَز
زاكَconsoles you (end) قالَhe says الَّذيwhat لَهُto him قُلتُI said قَبلاbefore
زاكَ قالَ الَّذي لَهُ قُلتُ قَبلا
And by your words he was guided; so when he consoles
By your own words he is guided; when he speaks,
you, he says what I told him before.
He merely echoes truths you taught to him before.
قَدindeed بَلَوتَyou experienced الخُطوبَcalamities مُرّاًbitter وَحُلواًand sweet
قَد بَلَوتَ الخُطوبَ مُرّاً وَحُلواً
وَسَلَكتَand you traversed الأَيّامَthe days حَزناًrough ground وَسَهلاand smooth ground
وَسَلَكتَ الأَيّامَ حَزناً وَسَهلا
You have experienced calamities, bitter and sweet,
You have tested Fortune’s ways, the bitter and the sweet,
and traversed the days over rough ground and smooth.
And traversed the path of days, through rugged lands and plains.
وَقَتَلتَand you slew الزَمانَTime عِلماًthrough knowledge فَماso not يُغـoffers novelty (start)
وَقَتَلتَ الزَمانَ عِلماً فَما يُغـ
ـرِبُoffers novelty (end) قَولاًin speech وَلاand not يُجَدِّدُit renews فِعلاa deed
ـرِبُ قَولاً وَلا يُجَدِّدُ فِعلا
You have slain Time with knowledge; it offers no
You have slain Time with knowledge; it brings no strange surprise,
strange word, nor performs any new deed.
No novel word it utters, nor deed does it renew.
أَجِدُI find الحُزنَsorrow فيكَin you حِفظاًremembrance وَعَقلاًand wisdom
أَجِدُ الحُزنَ فيكَ حِفظاً وَعَقلاً
وَأَراهُand I see it فيin الخَلقِpeople ذُعراًterror وَجَهلاand ignorance
وَأَراهُ في الخَلقِ ذُعراً وَجَهلا
I find sorrow in you to be remembrance and wisdom,
I find your sorrow proofs of mind and memory,
but in others I see it as terror and ignorance.
While in the common herd, I see but panic and despair.
لَكَyou have إِلفٌaffection يَجُرُّهُit draws it forth وَإِذاand when ماemphatic particle
لَكَ إِلفٌ يَجُرُّهُ وَإِذا ما
كَرُمَis noble الأَصلُthe root كانَit becomes لِلإِلفِfor affection أَصلاa root
كَرُمَ الأَصلُ كانَ لِلإِلفِ أَصلا
You have affection that draws sorrow forth—and when
It is a bond of love that draws your grief; and when
the root is noble, it becomes a root for affection—
The root is noble, it becomes the very root of love.
وَوَفاءٌand loyalty نَبَتَّyou grew فيهِin it وَلَكِنbut
وَوَفاءٌ نَبَتَّ فيهِ وَلَكِن
لَمnot يَزَلceased لِلوَفاءِof loyalty أَهلُكَyour family أَهلاworthy
لَم يَزَل لِلوَفاءِ أَهلُكَ أَهلا
and loyalty in which you grew; yet
A faithfulness in which you flourished—yet, indeed,
your family has always been worthy of loyalty.
Your kin have ever been the rightful lords of truth.
إِنَّindeed خَيرَthe best الدُموعِtears عَوناًin helpfulness لَدَمعٌsurely tears
إِنَّ خَيرَ الدُموعِ عَوناً لَدَمعٌ
بَعَثَتهُroused it رِعايَةٌfaithful care فَاِستَهَلّاand it poured forth
بَعَثَتهُ رِعايَةٌ فَاِستَهَلّا
Indeed, the most helpful tears are tears
The finest tear to aid the soul is one that flows,
roused by faithful care, which then pour forth.
Called forth by tender care, and thus begins to fall.
أَينَwhere ذيthis الرِقَّةُtenderness الَّتيwhich لَكَis yours فيin الحَرbattle (start)
أَينَ ذي الرِقَّةُ الَّتي لَكَ في الحَر
بِbattle (end) إِذاwhen اِستُكرِهَwas forced الحَديدُiron وَصَلّاand clanged
بِ إِذا اِستُكرِهَ الحَديدُ وَصَلّا
Where is this tenderness of yours in
Where is that gentleness you hold amidst the war,
battle, when iron is strained and clangs?
When iron is loathed and swords ring out their clashing song?
أَينَwhere خَلَّفتَهاyou left it غَداةَon the morning لَقيتَyou met الـthe (start)
أَينَ خَلَّفتَها غَداةَ لَقيتَ الـ
ـرومَRomans (end) وَالهامُand heads بِالصَوارِمِby keen swords تُفلىwere cleaved
ـرومَ وَالهامُ بِالصَوارِمِ تُفلى
Where did you leave it on the morning you met the
Where did you leave it, that dawn you met the Romans,
Romans, while heads were cleaved by keen swords?
When skulls were cleaved asunder by the striking blade?
قاسَمَتكَshared with you المَنونُDeath شَخصَينِtwo persons جَوراًunjustly
قاسَمَتكَ المَنونُ شَخصَينِ جَوراً
جَعَلَmade القِسمُthe division نَفسَهُitself فيكَin your case عَدلاjust
جَعَلَ القِسمُ نَفسَهُ فيكَ عَدلا
Death unjustly divided two persons with you;
Fate unjustly claimed a share of two dear lives,
yet the division itself proved just in your case.
Yet in the share it left with you, it sought to make amends.
فَإِذاso when قِستَyou compare ماwhat أَخَذنَthey took بِماwith what أَغـthey left (start)
فَإِذا قِستَ ما أَخَذنَ بِما أَغـ
ـدَرنَthey left (end) سَرّىit relieved عَنِfrom الفُؤادِthe heart وَسَلّىand consoled
ـدَرنَ سَرّى عَنِ الفُؤادِ وَسَلّى
So when you compare what was taken with what was
If you compare what Fates have taken with what remains,
left, it relieves the heart and consoles it.
It lifts the burden from the heart and brings relief.
وَتَيَقَّنتَand you became certain أَنَّthat حَظَّكَyour share أَوفىis fuller
وَتَيَقَّنتَ أَنَّ حَظَّكَ أَوفى
وَتَبَيَّنتَand you saw clearly أَنَّthat جَدَّكَyour fortune أَعلىis higher
وَتَبَيَّنتَ أَنَّ جَدَّكَ أَعلى
And you know for certain that your share is fuller,
You realize your portion is the fuller share,
and see clearly that your fortune is higher.
And see with clarity your fortune stands supreme.
وَلَعَمريand by my life لَقَدindeed شَغَلتَyou kept busy المَناياthe Fates
وَلَعَمري لَقَد شَغَلتَ المَنايا
بِالأَعاديwith enemies فَكَيفَso how يَطلَبنَthey seek شُغلاwork
بِالأَعادي فَكَيفَ يَطلَبنَ شُغلا
By my life, you have kept the Fates busy
Upon my life, you kept the Dooms so occupied,
with enemies; how, then, can they seek more work?
With enemies to slay—how could they seek more work?
وَكَمِand how many اِنتَشتَyou rescued بِالسُيوفِwith swords مِنَfrom الدَهـTime (start)
وَكَمِ اِنتَشتَ بِالسُيوفِ مِنَ الدَهـ
ـرِTime (end) أَسيراًa captive وَبِالنَوالِand with bounty مُقِلّاa pauper
ـرِ أَسيراً وَبِالنَوالِ مُقِلّا
And how often have you rescued with swords from
How often have you wrested captives from Time's grip,
Time a captive, and with bounty a pauper!
By sword, or raised the pauper by your generous hand?
عَدَّهاit counted it نُصرَةًa victory عَلَيهِover itself فَلَمّاthen when
عَدَّها نُصرَةً عَلَيهِ فَلَمّا
صالَit attacked خَتلاًby stealth رَآهُit thought itself أَدرَكَhad attained تَبلاvengeance
صالَ خَتلاً رَآهُ أَدرَكَ تَبلا
It counted this a victory over itself; then, when
Time counted this a victory won against itself,
it struck by stealth, it thought it had gained vengeance.
So when it struck by stealth, it deemed revenge was won.
كَذَبَتهُdeceived it ظُنونُهُits assumptions أَنتَyou تُبليyou wear out
كَذَبَتهُ ظُنونُهُ أَنتَ تُبلي
هِit وَتَبقىand you remain فيin نِعمَةٍa blessing لَيسَnot تَبلىwears out
هِ وَتَبقى في نِعمَةٍ لَيسَ تَبلى
Its assumptions deceived it: you wear
Its fancies lied! For you shall wear Time out and fade,
it out, and remain in a blessing that never wears out.
While you remain in grace that never knows decay.
وَلَقَدand indeed رامَكَsought you العُداةُthe enemies كَماjust as راsought (start)
وَلَقَد رامَكَ العُداةُ كَما را
مَsought (end) فَلَمbut not يَجرَحواthey wounded لِشَخصِكَof your person ظِلّاa shadow
مَ فَلَم يَجرَحوا لِشَخصِكَ ظِلّا
And your enemies indeed sought you, just as it
The foes have sought your ruin as Time sought it too,
did; yet they did not wound even your shadow.
Yet could not wound the merest shadow of your form.
وَلَقَدand indeed رُمتَyou sought بِالسَعادَةِwith good fortune بَعضاًsome
وَلَقَد رُمتَ بِالسَعادَةِ بَعضاً
مِنof نُفوسِthe lives of العِداthe enemies فَأَدرَكتَand you attained كُلّاall
مِن نُفوسِ العِدا فَأَدرَكتَ كُلّا
And indeed, with good fortune, you sought some
You aimed, with fortune's aid, at just a part of them,
of your enemies' lives, and attained them all.
Of hostile souls—yet you attained the whole of them.
قارَعَتclashed with رُمحَكَyour spear الرِماحُthe spears وَلَكِنbut
قارَعَت رُمحَكَ الرِماحُ وَلَكِن
تَرَكَleft الرامِحينَthe spearmen رُمحَكَyour spear عُزلاunarmed
تَرَكَ الرامِحينَ رُمحَكَ عُزلا
Spears clashed against your spear, but
Their spears engaged with yours in clashing antagonism,
your spear left the spearmen unarmed.
But yours has left the spearmen stripped and weaponless.
لَوif يَكونُwere الَّذيwhat وَرَدتَyou encountered مِنَof الفَجـbereavement (start)
لَو يَكونُ الَّذي وَرَدتَ مِنَ الفَجـ
ـعَةِbereavement (end) طَعناًa spear-thrust أَورَدتَهُyou would lead into it الخَيلَthe horses قُبلاhead-on
ـعَةِ طَعناً أَورَدتَهُ الخَيلَ قُبلا
Had the bereavement you encountered been
If this calamity you face were but a lance,
a spear-thrust, you would have led the horses straight into it.
You would have charged the horses headlong at the thrust.
وَلَكَشَفتَand you would have dispelled ذاthis الحَنينِlament بِضَربٍwith blows
وَلَكَشَفتَ ذا الحَنينِ بِضَربٍ
طالَماso often كَشَّفَdispelled الكُروبَdistresses وَجَلّىand cleared away
طالَما كَشَّفَ الكُروبَ وَجَلّى
And you would have dispelled this lament with blows
You would have silenced this moaning with a blow,
that have so often dispelled distress and cleared it away.
That often cleared the clouds of anguish and despair.
خِطبَةٌa marriage proposal لِلحِمامِof Death لَيسَthere is not لَهاfor it رَدrefusal (start)
خِطبَةٌ لِلحِمامِ لَيسَ لَها رَد
دٌrefusal (end) وَإِنalthough كانَتِit is المُسَمّاةَthe one called ثُكلاbereavement
دٌ وَإِن كانَتِ المُسَمّاةَ ثُكلا
Death's marriage proposal admits no
It is Death's proposal which cannot be refused,
refusal, though it is called bereavement.
Although the dowry named is loss and bereavement.
وَإِذاand when لَمnot تَجِدshe finds مِنَamong الناسِpeople كُفواًan equal
وَإِذا لَم تَجِد مِنَ الناسِ كُفواً
ذاتُa woman with خِدرٍa curtained chamber أَرادَتِshe desires المَوتَDeath بَعلاa husband
ذاتُ خِدرٍ أَرادَتِ المَوتَ بَعلا
And when she finds no equal among men,
When she of noble seclusion finds no equal mate,
a secluded maiden desires Death as her husband.
She chooses Death himself to be her husband then.
وَلَذيذُand the sweetness of الحَياةِlife أَنفَسُmore precious فيin النَفـthe soul (start)
وَلَذيذُ الحَياةِ أَنفَسُ في النَفـ
ـسِthe soul (end) وَأَشهىand more desirable مِنthan أَنto يُمَلَّbe tired of وَأَحلىand sweeter
ـسِ وَأَشهى مِن أَن يُمَلَّ وَأَحلى
And life's sweetness is too precious to the
The sweet delight of life is dearer to the soul,
soul, too desirable to tire of, and too sweet.
And far too luscious to be scorned, too sweet to tire.
وَإِذاand when الشَيخُthe old man قالَsays أُفٍّUgh! فَماthen not مَلgrew weary (start)
وَإِذا الشَيخُ قالَ أُفٍّ فَما مَل
لَgrew weary (end) حَياةًof life وَإِنَّماbut only الضَعفَweakness مَلّاhe tired of
لَ حَياةً وَإِنَّما الضَعفَ مَلّا
And when an old man says, 'Ugh!', he has not tired
And if the elder groans in pain, he does not tire
of life; it is weakness alone he has tired of.
Of life itself; he wearies only of his frail decay.
آلَةُthe tools of العَيشِlife صِحَّةٌhealth وَشَبابٌand youth
آلَةُ العَيشِ صِحَّةٌ وَشَبابٌ
فَإِذاso when وَلَّياboth departed عَنِfrom المَرءِthe man وَلّىhe departed
فَإِذا وَلَّيا عَنِ المَرءِ وَلّى
The tools of life are health and youth;
The instruments of life are health and vibrant youth;
when both depart from a man, he too departs.
When these depart a man, he too begins to fade.
أَبَداًforever تَستَرِدُّshe takes back ماwhat تَهَبُshe gives الدُنthe world (start)
أَبَداً تَستَرِدُّ ما تَهَبُ الدُن
ياthe world (end) فَياso oh لَيتَif only جودَهاher generosity كانَwere بُخلاstinginess
يا فَيا لَيتَ جودَها كانَ بُخلا
The world forever takes back what she gives;
The World forever claims back every gift it gave;
if only her generosity had been stinginess!
Oh, would that its largesse had been but miserliness!
فَكَفَتthen she would have spared كَونَthe existence of فَرحَةٍa joy تورِثُbequeaths الغَمـsorrow (start)
فَكَفَت كَونَ فَرحَةٍ تورِثُ الغَمـ
ـمَsorrow (end) وَخِلٍّand a friend يُغادِرُleaves behind الوَجدَanguish خِلّاa friend
ـمَ وَخِلٍّ يُغادِرُ الوَجدَ خِلّا
Then she would have spared us a joy that bequeaths
To spare us fleeting joys that heir us only grief,
sorrow, and a friend who leaves anguish as a friend.
And friends whose leaving leaves but sorrow in their place.
وَهيَand she مَعشوقَةٌis beloved عَلىdespite الغَدرِtreachery لاnot تَحـshe keeps (start)
وَهيَ مَعشوقَةٌ عَلى الغَدرِ لا تَحـ
ـفَظُshe keeps (end) عَهداًa covenant وَلاand not تُتَمِّمُshe completes وَصلاa union
ـفَظُ عَهداً وَلا تُتَمِّمُ وَصلا
Yet she is beloved despite her treachery; she does not
She is a mistress loved despite her treacherous ways;
keep a covenant or fulfill a union.
She keeps no covenant, nor brings love to its end.
كُلِّevery دَمعٍtear يَسيلُflows مِنهاfrom her عَلَيهاfor her
كُلِّ دَمعٍ يَسيلُ مِنها عَلَيها
وَبِفَكِّand by releasing اليَدَينِboth hands عَنهاfrom her تُخَلّىshe is relinquished
وَبِفَكِّ اليَدَينِ عَنها تُخَلّى
Every tear that flows comes from her and is for her;
Each tear that falls is shed for her, because of her,
and she is relinquished when both hands release her.
Yet only when hands loosen is she truly left.
شِيَمُthe ways of الغانِياتِbeautiful women فيهاin her فَلاso not أَدI know (start)
شِيَمُ الغانِياتِ فيها فَلا أَد
ريI know (end) لِذاfor this reason أَنَّثَmade feminine اِسمَهاher name الناسُpeople أَمor لاnot
ري لِذا أَنَّثَ اِسمَها الناسُ أَم لا
In her are the ways of beautiful women; I do not
She holds the fickle traits of bright and lovely maids;
know whether people made her name feminine for this reason or not.
Is this why men have named her with a female name?
ياO مَليكَking of الوَرىmankind المُفَرِّقَwho apportions مَحياًlife
يا مَليكَ الوَرى المُفَرِّقَ مَحياً
وَمَماتاًand death فيهِمamong them وَعِزّاًand honor وَذُلّاand abasement
وَمَماتاً فيهِم وَعِزّاً وَذُلّا
O king of mankind, who apportions life
O King of all mankind, divider of their lot—
and death among them, and honor and abasement,
Dealing out death and life, and honor and disgrace.
قَلَّدَgirded اللَهُGod دَولَةًa realm سَيفُهاits sword أَنـyou (start)
قَلَّدَ اللَهُ دَولَةً سَيفُها أَنـ
ـتَyou (end) حُساماًa keen blade بِالمَكرُماتِwith noble deeds مُحَلّىadorned
ـتَ حُساماً بِالمَكرُماتِ مُحَلّى
God has girded a realm—whose sword is
God has adorned a State of which you are the Sword,
you—with a keen blade adorned with noble deeds.
A blade made sharp by might, with noble deeds inlaid.
فَبِهِso through it أَغنَتِit enriched المَوالِيَthe followers بَذلاًby giving
فَبِهِ أَغنَتِ المَوالِيَ بَذلاً
وَبِهِand through it أَفنَتِit annihilated الأَعادِيَthe enemies قَتلاby killing
وَبِهِ أَفنَتِ الأَعادِيَ قَتلا
Through it, the realm enriched its followers with gifts,
Through it, the State enriched its friends with lavish gifts,
and through it annihilated its enemies by killing.
Through it, it decimated foes with slaughtering.
وَإِذاand when اِهتَزَّhe stirs لِلنَدىto generosity كانَhe is بَحراًa sea
وَإِذا اِهتَزَّ لِلنَدى كانَ بَحراً
وَإِذاand when اِهتَزَّhe stirs لِلوَغىto battle كانَhe is نَصلاa blade
وَإِذا اِهتَزَّ لِلوَغى كانَ نَصلا
And when he stirs to generosity, he is a sea;
And when it moves to give, it is a boundless sea;
and when he stirs to battle, he is a blade.
And when it moves for war, it is a severing blade.
وَإِذَand when الأَرضُthe earth أَظلَمَتgrows dark كانَhe is شَمساًa sun
وَإِذَ الأَرضُ أَظلَمَت كانَ شَمساً
وَإِذاand when الأَرضُthe earth أَمحَلَتgrows barren كانَhe is وَبلاa downpour
وَإِذا الأَرضُ أَمحَلَت كانَ وَبلا
And when the earth grows dark, he is a sun;
When earth is wrapped in dark, he is a radiant sun;
and when the earth grows barren, he is a downpour.
When earth is parched with drought, he is the pouring rain.
وَهُوَand he الضارِبُthe striker of الكَتيبَةِthe battalion وَالطَعand the spear-thrust (start)
وَهُوَ الضارِبُ الكَتيبَةِ وَالطَع
نَةُspear-thrust (end) تَغلوis costly وَالضَربُand sword-blows أَغلىcostlier وَأَغلىand costlier
نَةُ تَغلو وَالضَربُ أَغلى وَأَغلى
And he strikes the battalion when a spear-thrust
He strikes the dense battalion while the lance's thrust
is costly, and sword-blows costlier and costlier.
Costs dear—yet his strike commands a higher price.
أَيُّهاO you الباهِرُdazzler of العُقولَminds فَماso not تُدyou are grasped (start)
أَيُّها الباهِرُ العُقولَ فَما تُد
رَكُyou are grasped (end) وَصفاًin description أَتعَبتَyou exhausted فِكريmy thought فَمَهلاso gently
رَكُ وَصفاً أَتعَبتَ فِكري فَمَهلا
O dazzler of minds, beyond being grasped
O you who dazzle minds! You cannot be comprised
in description, you have exhausted my thought; be gentle!
By mere description; you have tired my thought—go soft!
مَنwhoever تَعاطىattempts تَشَبُّهاًresemblance بِكَto you أَعياexhausted
مَن تَعاطى تَشَبُّهاً بِكَ أَعيا
هُhim وَمَنand whoever دَلَّguides فيalong طَريقِكَyour path ضَلّاwent astray
هُ وَمَن دَلَّ في طَريقِكَ ضَلّا
Whoever tries to resemble you is exhausted by the attempt;
Who seeks to mime your state is weary and undone;
and whoever guides along your path goes astray.
Who tries to guide others on your path is lost.
فَإِذاso when ماemphatic particle اِشتَهىdesires خُلودَكَyour immortality داعٍone who prays
فَإِذا ما اِشتَهى خُلودَكَ داعٍ
قالَhe says لاmay you not زُلتَcease أَوuntil تَرىyou see لَكَfor you مِثلاan equal
قالَ لا زُلتَ أَو تَرى لَكَ مِثلا
So when one praying desires your immortality,
So if a supplicant should wish you boundless life,
he says, 'May you live on until you see your equal.'
He says: 'Live on, until you see your peer arise.'
Gemini 3.5 Flash is a user-supplied attribution. The original record does not identify its model.