شَيئانtwo things أَثاراstirred لَوعَةَthe anguish of الأَحزانsorrows
شَيئان أَثارا لَوعَةَ الأَحزان
سَهمthe arrow of القَدرfate
سَهم القَدر
Two things stirred the anguish of sorrows:
Two things stirred the pangs of sorrow -
the arrow of fate
The arrow of destiny among people, and their wretched livelihood.
فيamong الناسpeople وَسوءand the misery of عيشةthe life of الإِنسانthe human being
في الناس وَسوء عيشة الإِنسان
بَينَamong البَقَرthe cattle
بَينَ البَقَر
among people, and the misery of man's life
Alas for the refined and the knowledgeable!
among cattle.
They are the best of humankind.
ياO وَيحwoe to ذَويthose possessing الآدابliterary cultivation وَالعرفانand understanding
يا وَيح ذَوي الآداب وَالعرفان
خَيرthe best of البَشَرhumankind
خَير البَشَر
Alas for those of letters and understanding—
Yet they are humiliated while the ignoble looks on gleefully,
the best of humankind!
One of life's great injustices.
هانواthey were demeaned فَشؤونهمso their affairs يَراهاhe sees them الشانيthe hater
هانوا فَشؤونهم يَراها الشاني
إحدىone of الكبرthe great calamities
إحدى الكبر
They were brought low, and the hater sees their affairs
O ignorance! By you they judged pain,
as one of the greatest calamities.
Yet ignorance is blindness.
ياO جَهلignorance أَماhave ... not?
يا جَهل أَما
بِكَthrough you اِستَحسّواthey sensed ألماpain
بِكَ اِستَحسّوا ألما
O ignorance, have they not
Alas! Ignorance has not silenced the prattle,
felt pain through you?
Nor has talk subsided.
وَالجَهلand ignorance عَمىblindness
وَالجَهل عَمى
هَيهاتfar from it فماfor not
هَيهات فما
And ignorance is blindness.
O worst of gangs who act like savages,
Far from it! For you have not
Rising and retiring,
أخرستyou silenced ياO جهلignorance فماa mouth
أخرست يا جهل فما
وَالخَطبand the calamity نَماgrew
وَالخَطب نَما
silenced a mouth, O ignorance,
Boasting of vulgarity and rude nature
while the calamity grew.
Like one deranged.
ياO شرَّthe worst of عِصابةa band غَدَتbecame كَالهمجlike rabble
يا شرَّ عِصابة غَدَت كَالهمج
تَغدوit goes forth وَتجيand comes
تَغدو وَتجي
O worst of bands, become like rabble,
They care not for propriety atop the dunes,
going and coming,
Bearers of pearls.
تَزهوit boasts بِفَظاظةof coarseness وَطَبعand a nature سَمجrepulsive
تَزهو بِفَظاظة وَطَبع سَمج
كَالمُبتهجِlike one delighted
كَالمُبتهجِ
boasting of coarseness and a repulsive nature,
Yet I wonder at the gilding of gold,
like one delighted.
Scorched by flames,
ماnot كانَwas عَلىupon أَمثالهمtheir like مِنany حَرَجblame
ما كانَ عَلى أَمثالهم مِن حَرَج
ياO ذاpossessor of الأَرجِfragrance
يا ذا الأَرجِ
No blame lay upon the likes of them,
And at time's idiocy
O you of fragrance.
Giving the lowborn
لاnot يَعبأhe cares بِالغثاءabout the flotsam فَوقَabove اللججthe deep waters
لا يَعبأ بِالغثاء فَوقَ اللجج
حاويthe holder of الدُررpearls
حاوي الدُرر
He pays no heed to the flotsam upon the deep waters—
The highest positions.
the holder of pearls.
Some claimed wealth is the highest honor,
لَكنbut عجبيmy wonder
لَكن عجبي
مِنat اِصطلاءِexposure to heat الذهبthe gold
مِن اِصطلاءِ الذهب
But I marvel
While knowledge to those fools
at gold's exposure to
Is the lowest profession.
حرَّthe heat of اللَهبthe flame
حرَّ اللَهب
وَالدَهرand time غَبيfoolish
وَالدَهر غَبي
the heat of flame.
Damn them and the hated slanderer,
And time is foolish:
Perpetrator of violence.
يُعطيit gives خَسيسone base in النسبlineage
يُعطي خَسيس النسب
أَعلىthe highest of الرُتبthe ranks
أَعلى الرُتب
it gives one of base lineage
The ignorant cannot be compared to the virtuous,
the highest ranks.
The lofty and eminent.
قَومa people زَعَمواthey claimed أنّthat الغنىwealth بِالمالin money
قَوم زَعَموا أنّ الغنى بِالمال
أَعلىthe highest of الشَرَفhonor
أَعلى الشَرَف
A people claimed that wealth in money
Wealth, by God, and knowledge
is the highest honor,
Are self-sufficiency.
وَالعلمand learning لَدىamong أَولائكthose الجهالignorant people
وَالعلم لَدى أَولائك الجهال
أَدنىthe lowest of الحرفthe trades
أَدنى الحرف
and learning, among those ignorant people,
They bring you glory,
is the lowest of trades.
A harvest you reap.
تَبّاًruin لَهُمto them وَللبَغيضand to the detested القاليhater
تَبّاً لَهُم وَللبَغيض القالي
قانيpossessor of العنفviolence
قاني العنف
Ruin to them, and to the detested hater,
By God, when the sky of rule is illuminated
the possessor of violence.
By every wise person,
فَالجاهلfor the ignorant man لاnot يُقاسis compared بِالمفضالwith the beneficent man
فَالجاهل لا يُقاس بِالمفضال
ساميlofty in الخَطَرstature
سامي الخَطَر
For the ignorant cannot compare with the beneficent,
None but the blind deny their brilliant merit -
lofty in stature.
And excellence is bountiful.
المالmoney عَناtoil
المال عَنا
وَالعلمand learning واللّهby God غنىwealth
وَالعلم واللّه غنى
Money is toil;
How many learned men among the people
and learning, by God, is wealth:
Whose knowledge is supreme,
يوليكit grants you ثَناpraise
يوليك ثَنا
وَالمَجدand glory جَنىthe harvest of
وَالمَجد جَنى
it grants you praise.
Yet are diminished by the lowliest ignorant one in the nations,
And glory is the harvest
Like the despised!
غَرسa planting بِهِthrough it نلتyou attained منىwishes
غَرس بِهِ نلت منى
يَأتيit comes بِهَناwith happiness
يَأتي بِهَنا
of a planting through which you attained your wishes,
No blame upon a family of low status
bringing happiness.
If they increased your paucity.
تَاللَهby God إِذاwhen ضاءتshone سَماءthe sky of الحكمwise sayings
تَاللَه إِذا ضاءت سَماء الحكم
مِنfrom كُلevery حَكيمsage
مِن كُل حَكيم
By God, when wisdom's sky shines
Does an empty house not
with light from every sage,
Become fuller if the youth in it thrives?
لاnot ينكرdenies نورthe light of فَضلهمtheir excellence غَيرother than عَميthe blind
لا ينكر نور فَضلهم غَير عَمي
وَالفَضلand excellence عَميمall-embracing
وَالفَضل عَميم
none but the blind deny the light of their excellence,
Journey on, O dwelling of sighs,
and excellence is all-embracing.
Among the ruins,
كَمhow many مِنof علَمa luminary فيamong الناسpeople ساميlofty in العلمlearning
كَم مِن علَم في الناس سامي العلم
وَاللَهand God عَليمall-knowing
وَاللَه عَليم
How many a luminary among people, lofty in learning—
I will not alight except in a populated place,
and God is all-knowing—
Filled with jinn.
أَزراهhe demeaned him أَخسّthe basest جاهلignoramus فيamong الأُممthe nations
أَزراه أَخسّ جاهل في الأُمم
كَالمحتقرlike one despised
كَالمحتقر
has the basest ignoramus among nations demeaned
Jinn appeared in human form -
like one despised!
The matter is clear.
لاno عتبreproach عَلىupon
لا عتب عَلى
أَهيلthe petty folk of بيتa house سفلاfallen low
أَهيل بيت سفلا
No reproach rests upon
No descendants of Adam are devoid of jinn
the petty folk of a house fallen low;
Of hideous form.
زادوكthey added to your قلىloathing
زادوك قلى
هَلdoes بَيتa house خَلاbecame empty
هَل بَيت خَلا
they added to your loathing.
If you experience it, seek refuge in the Lord of the Dawn
Does an empty house,
At daybreak,
إِذاwhen الفَتىthe young man فيهin it خلاdeparted
إِذا الفَتى فيه خلا
يَزدادit increases عُلىin eminence
يَزداد عُلى
when the young man within it has gone,
And beware, be prudent,
grow in eminence?
Lest an evil one touch you in anxiety.
سرgo بيwith me كَرَماًkindly ياO موقفhalter of الأَظعانthe camel litters
سر بي كَرَماً يا موقف الأَظعان
عِندَbeside الطللِthe ruined dwelling
عِندَ الطللِ
Lead me onward, kindly, O you who halt the camel litters,
A monkey shedding decency sheds stench,
beside the ruined dwelling.
Garment of vileness.
لاnot أنزلI alight مَنزِلاًa dwelling بِلاwithout سُكّانinhabitants
لا أنزل مَنزِلاً بِلا سُكّان
بِالجنّwith jinn مليfilled
بِالجنّ ملي
I will not alight at a dwelling without inhabitants,
Boasting with the adornment of profligacy, the boasting of mischief,
filled with jinn.
Above inequity.
جنٌّjinn ظَهرتappeared بِصورةin the form of الإِنسانa human being
جنٌّ ظَهرت بِصورة الإِنسان
وَالأَمرand the matter جَليplain
وَالأَمر جَلي
Jinn have appeared in human form,
The ignorant in our time, full of troubles,
and the matter is plain.
Above the perceptive.
ماwhat خَلفbegot نسلoffspring of آدمAdam مِنof جانjinn
ما خَلف نسل آدم مِن جان
شنعhideous in الصُورform
شنع الصُور
What jinn Adam's offspring have begotten—
The reasonable one from the fluctuations of time
hideous in form!
Under danger.
إِنif كُنتyou are تَفيyou keep faith
إِن كُنت تَفي
فَعُذthen seek refuge بربّin the Lord of الفلقِdaybreak
فَعُذ بربّ الفلقِ
If you keep faith,
Tears and restraint,
then seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak
Though the state of affairs lacks concealment,
عِندat الفَرقfear
عِند الفَرق
وَاِحذَرand beware لِتقيso that you protect
وَاِحذَر لِتقي
when afraid,
And time is heedless.
and beware, to protect
O Time, enough!
حجاكyour reason عِندat القلقdistress
حجاك عِند القلق
مِنfrom مسّthe touch of شقيa wretch
مِن مسّ شقي
your reason in distress
You have accustomed us to your abandonment,
from a wretch's touch.
But patience is pardon.
قردa monkey خَلعshed الحَياءmodesty خَلعas the shedding of العفنthe filthy one
قرد خَلع الحَياء خَلع العفن
ثَوبthe garment of الدَرنِgrime
ثَوب الدَرنِ
A monkey shed modesty as a filthy one sheds
How foolish is one who exalts the steed of folly
a grime-stained garment.
For racing,
يَزهوhe boasts بِحلىin the ornaments of المجونdebauchery زَهوas the flourishing of الفنَنthe bough
يَزهو بِحلى المجون زَهو الفنَن
فَوقabove الدمنِthe dung heaps
فَوق الدمنِ
He flaunts the ornaments of debauchery as a bough flourishes
Tempted by his awful deed, the pretentious one,
above dung heaps.
Evil in nature.
فَالجاهلfor the ignorant man فيin زَمانناour age ذيpossessing المِحَنthe trials
فَالجاهل في زَماننا ذي المِحَن
فَوقَabove الفطنِthe discerning man
فَوقَ الفطنِ
For the ignorant, in our age of trials,
The owl in the darkness is not recalled
stands above the discerning;
With dawn's light
وَالعاقلand the wise man مِنbecause of تَقَلُّباتِthe reversals of الزَمَنtime
وَالعاقل مِن تَقَلُّباتِ الزَمَن
تَحتَunder الخَطَرِthreat
تَحتَ الخَطَرِ
while the wise, through time's reversals,
Except exposing it at daybreak
is under threat.
With bitter boredom.
دَمعtears وَكَفاstreamed
دَمع وَكَفا
وَالحالand the situation ماnot فيهin it خفاconcealment
وَالحال ما فيه خفا
Tears have streamed,
Thus the sun when it rises
and the state of things is no secret;
And there is a speck in the eye
وَالدَهرand time غَفاslept
وَالدَهر غَفا
ياO دَهرtime كَفىenough
يا دَهر كَفى
and time has fallen asleep.
Increases pain.
O time, enough!
The rose too
تَسومناyou subject us مِنكfrom you جفاharshness
تَسومنا مِنك جفا
فَالصَبرfor patience عَفاhas worn away
فَالصَبر عَفا
You inflict your harshness upon us,
Has a beautiful fragrance
for patience has worn away.
None would deny.
ماhow أَحمَقfoolish منone who علاmounted جَوادthe steed of الحمقfolly
ما أَحمَق من علا جَواد الحمق
للمستبقfor the race
للمستبق
How foolish is one who mounts the steed of folly
for the race!
أَغراهit enticed him بِسوءto the evil of فعلهhis deed المختلقcontrived
أَغراه بِسوء فعله المختلق
سوءbadness of الخلقcharacter
سوء الخلق
He was enticed to his evil, contrived deed
by bad character.
ماnever اِستذكرrecalled طائرthe bird of الدُجاdarkness فيin الغَسَقthe gloom
ما اِستذكر طائر الدُجا في الغَسَق
نورthe light of الفَلَقdaybreak
نور الفَلَق
The bird of darkness never recalls, in the gloom,
the light of daybreak,
إِلّاexcept وَعراهand afflicted it مِنfrom طُلوعthe rising of الشَفَقtwilight
إِلّا وَعراه مِن طُلوع الشَفَق
مرُّthe bitterness of الضَجرvexation
مرُّ الضَجر
without being seized, at twilight's rising, by
bitter vexation.
فَالشَمسfor the sun إِذاwhen
فَالشَمس إِذا
بَدَتappears وَفيand in العينthe eye قذىa mote
بَدَت وَفي العين قذى
For when the sun
appears while a mote is in the eye,
تَزدادit increases أَذىin harm
تَزداد أَذى
وَالوردand the rose كَذاlikewise
وَالورد كَذا
it causes greater pain.
And likewise the rose:
لَهُit has مِنof الطيبfragrance شذاa waft of scent
لَهُ مِن الطيب شذا
منwho يُنكرdenies ذاthis
من يُنكر ذا
it has a waft of fragrance—
who denies this?
Partial English translation: 84 of 98 Arabic lines translated.