عَجبتI marveled لِصَيّادat a fisherman عَلىupon البَحرthe sea لَمdid not تَزَلcease
عَجبت لِصَيّاد عَلى البَحر لَم تَزَل
لَهُto him أَنفَسُthe choicest الحيتانthe fish فيin أَنفُسsouls الرقِّbondage
لَهُ أَنفَسُ الحيتان في أَنفُس الرقِّ
I marveled at a fisherman upon the sea: always
I wondered at a fisherman in the sea continuously
The choicest fish are his, their souls in bondage.
For him the souls of whales in the throats of thin rope
يُسابقhe races عِزرائيلAzrael فيin قَبضseizing روحهاtheir souls
يُسابق عِزرائيل في قَبض روحها
أَلَستَdo you not تَراهyou see him رافِعاًraising قَصَبreed السَبقِvictory
أَلَستَ تَراه رافِعاً قَصَب السَبقِ
He races Azrael to seize their souls;
He races Azrael in taking her soul
Do you not see him raising the reed of victory?
Don't you see him raising the rod of racing