وَقَدْand already كَفَىsufficed مِنْof بَدْئِهِhis beginning ماwhat قَدْalready بَداappeared
وَقَدْ كَفَى مِنْ بَدْئِهِ ما قَدْ بَدا
وَإِنْand if ثَنَىrepeats فِيin العَوْدِreturning كانَwas أَحْمَداmore praiseworthy
وَإِنْ ثَنَى فِي العَوْدِ كانَ أَحْمَدا
And what has already appeared at his outset has sufficed.
What he began was enough to manifest
And if he repeats it on returning, he will be more praiseworthy.
And if he returns, he will be most excellent
لَمْdid not يَغْنَdwell بِالعَلْياءِin the heights إِلَّاexcept سَيِّداas a lord
لَمْ يَغْنَ بِالعَلْياءِ إِلَّا سَيِّدا
وَلاand not شَفَىcured ذاone possessing الغَيِّmisguidance إِلَّاexcept ذُوone possessing الهُدَىright guidance
وَلا شَفَى ذا الغَيِّ إِلَّا ذُو الهُدَى
He dwelt on high only as a lord.
None cured the lofty except the master
Nor has anyone cured the wayward except one rightly guided.
None cured the lost except the guide
وَعِزُّناand our might عِزٌّmight إِذاwhen تَوَحَّداstood alone
وَعِزُّنا عِزٌّ إِذا تَوَحَّدا
تَثَاقَلَتْgrew weighty أَرْكَانُهُits pillars وَاعلَوَّدَاand grew strong
تَثَاقَلَتْ أَرْكَانُهُ وَاعلَوَّدَا
And our might is might; when it stands alone,
And our strength is strength when united
Its pillars grow weighty, and it grows strong.
Its pillars grew firm and elevated
كُنْتُمْyou were كَمَنlike one who أَدْخَلَput فيinto جُحْرٍa burrow يَداa hand
كُنْتُمْ كَمَن أَدْخَلَ في جُحْرٍ يَدا
فَأَخْطَأso he missed الأَفْعَىthe viper وَلَاقَىand encountered الأَسْوَداthe black snake
فَأَخْطَأ الأَفْعَى وَلَاقَى الأَسْوَدا
You were like one who put a hand into a burrow,
You were like one whose hand entered a burrow
And so he missed the viper and met the black snake.
Missing the snake but meeting the lion