عَسىmay it be that قاعِدُseated or inactive الحَظِّfortune يَوماًone day يَثِبwill spring up
عَسى قاعِدُ الحَظِّ يَوماً يَثِب
فَيَسفِرَand so may it unveil عَنfrom وَجهِهِits face المُنتَقِبthe veiled one
فَيَسفِرَ عَن وَجهِهِ المُنتَقِب
May seated fortune one day spring up,
and unveil its veiled face,
وَيَفرِجَand may it clear ليfor me عَنfrom طَريقِthe path العُلىof eminence
وَيَفرِجَ لي عَن طَريقِ العُلى
زِحامَthe crowding الخُطوبِof calamities وَحَشدَand the massing النُوَبof misfortunes
زِحامَ الخُطوبِ وَحَشدَ النُوَب
and clear from my path to eminence
the press of calamities and the massed misfortunes,
فَأَدرِكَso I may attain أَبعَدَthe farthest ماthat which يَرتَميis aimed toward
فَأَدرِكَ أَبعَدَ ما يَرتَمي
إِلَيهِtoward it مَرامٌan aim وَيَسموand rises طَلَبan aspiration
إِلَيهِ مَرامٌ وَيَسمو طَلَب
so I may attain the farthest point toward which
any aim is cast and any aspiration rises;
وَيُنصِفَand may deal justly جائِرُtyrannical دَهرٍan age يُباis so—
وَيُنصِفَ جائِرُ دَهرٍ يُبا
عُ—ld فيin سوقِهِits market الدُرُّpearls بِالمَخشَلَبfor glass beads
عُ في سوقِهِ الدُرُّ بِالمَخشَلَب
and may a tyrannous age deal justly—an age in whose
market pearls are sold for glass beads:
زَمانِan age نِفاقٍof hypocrisy يُهابُis revered or feared الثَراءُwealth
زَمانِ نِفاقٍ يُهابُ الثَراءُ
فيamong أَهلِهِits people وَيُهانُand is scorned الحَسَبnoble lineage
في أَهلِهِ وَيُهانُ الحَسَب
an age of hypocrisy in which wealth is revered
among its people, while noble lineage is scorned.
فَكَمso how many لِيَI have مِنof تَرَةٍa claim for vengeance عِندَهُagainst it
فَكَم لِيَ مِن تَرَةٍ عِندَهُ
وَمِنand how many of طَيِّthe folds أَيّامِهِof its days مِنof أُرَبneeds or desires
وَمِن طَيِّ أَيّامِهِ مِن أُرَب
How many claims for vengeance I have against it,
and how many needs lie folded within its days!
وَقَدand indeed غَرَّdeceived أَبنائَهُits sons أَنَّنيthat I
وَقَد غَرَّ أَبنائَهُ أَنَّني
ضَحِكتُI laughed وَماand not ضَحِكيmy laughter مِنfrom عَجَبdelight or wonder
ضَحِكتُ وَما ضَحِكي مِن عَجَب
Its sons were deceived because I
laughed, though my laughter sprang from no delight.
فَظَنّواso they thought خُشوعيmy humility لَهُمtoward them ذِلَّةًabasement
فَظَنّوا خُشوعي لَهُم ذِلَّةً
وَتَحتَand beneath سُكوتِيَmy silence صِلٌّa viper يَثِبsprings
وَتَحتَ سُكوتِيَ صِلٌّ يَثِب
They thought my humility toward them abasement,
while beneath my silence is a viper ready to spring.
وَإِنَّand indeed وَراءَbehind اِبتِساميmy smile لَهُمfor them
وَإِنَّ وَراءَ اِبتِسامي لَهُم
فُؤاداًa heart بِأَشجانِهِwith its sorrows يَنتَحِبwails
فُؤاداً بِأَشجانِهِ يَنتَحِب
Behind my smile for them, indeed,
is a heart that wails with its sorrows.
وَقَدand sometimes يُرعَدُtrembles السَيفُthe sword لاnot خيفَةًfrom fear
وَقَد يُرعَدُ السَيفُ لا خيفَةً
وَقَدand sometimes يَنثَنيbends الرُمحُthe spear لاnot عَنfrom طَرَبjoy
وَقَد يَنثَني الرُمحُ لا عَن طَرَب
A sword may tremble, but not from fear;
a spear may bend, but not from joy.
فَلِلَّهِhow admirable before God دَرُّthe excellence أَخيof a man possessing عَزمَةٍresolve
فَلِلَّهِ دَرُّ أَخي عَزمَةٍ
رَأىhe saw الضَيمَoppression فيin مَوطِنٍa homeland فَاِغتَرَبso he departed
رَأى الضَيمَ في مَوطِنٍ فَاِغتَرَب
How excellent is the resolute man
who sees oppression in a homeland and departs!
فَماso what is wrong ليwith me رَضيتُthat I accepted بِدارِan abode الهَوانِof humiliation
فَما لي رَضيتُ بِدارِ الهَوانِ
كَأَنas though لَيسَthere is not فيon الأَرضِthe earth ليfor me مُضطَرَبroom to roam
كَأَن لَيسَ في الأَرضِ لي مُضطَرَب
Why have I accepted an abode of humiliation,
as though there were no place on earth for me to roam?
وَقَدand indeed حَدَّثَنيtold me مَعاليthe heights الأُمورِof affairs
وَقَد حَدَّثَني مَعالي الأُمورِ
بِأَنّيthat I سَأُدرِكُهاshall attain them عَنfrom كَثَبnearby
بِأَنّي سَأُدرِكُها عَن كَثَب
The heights of achievement have told me
that I shall attain them close at hand,
وَأَنّيand that I أَنالُshall gain إِذاif كُنتُI am جارَa neighbor of
وَأَنّي أَنالُ إِذا كُنتُ جارَ
عَبدِʿAbd الرَحيمِal-Raḥīm أَعاليthe highest الرُتَبranks
عَبدِ الرَحيمِ أَعالي الرُتَب
and that I shall gain, if I become the neighbor of
ʿAbd al-Raḥīm, the highest ranks.
فَكَيفَso how وَأَحبَبتُهُwhen I have loved him أَصحَبُcan I accompany الthe—
فَكَيفَ وَأَحبَبتُهُ أَصحَبُ ال
مَذَلَّةِ—humiliation وَالمَرءُand a man مَعَis with مَنthe one whom أَحَبhe loves
مَذَلَّةِ وَالمَرءُ مَعَ مَن أَحَب
How then, having loved him, can I keep company with the—
—abasement? A man is with the one he loves.
هُوَhe المَرءُthe man تَهزَءُare mocked by أَقلامُهُhis pens
هُوَ المَرءُ تَهزَءُ أَقلامُهُ
بِسُمرِat brown shafts العَواليthe lofty spears وَبيضِand white blades القُضُبthe swords
بِسُمرِ العَوالي وَبيضِ القُضُب
He is the man whose pens mock
brown spearshafts and white swords.
كَتائِبُهُhis battalions فيin الوَغىbattle كُتبُهُare his books
كَتائِبُهُ في الوَغى كُتبُهُ
وَآراؤُهُand his opinions بَيضُهُare his swords وَاليَلَبand the shields
وَآراؤُهُ بَيضُهُ وَاليَلَب
His books are his battalions in battle,
and his opinions his swords and shields.
كَريمُnoble المَناسِبِin lineage مُستَصرَخٌone appealed to for aid
كَريمُ المَناسِبِ مُستَصرَخٌ
لِسَترِto conceal العَوارِdisgrace وَكَشفِand dispel الكُرَبafflictions
لِسَترِ العَوارِ وَكَشفِ الكُرَب
Noble in lineage, he is one appealed to
to conceal disgrace and dispel afflictions.
مِنَfrom القَومِthe people لاnot جارُهُمtheir neighbor مُسلَمٌis surrendered
مِنَ القَومِ لا جارُهُم مُسلَمٌ
وَلاand not حَبلُthe rope ميثاقِهِمof their covenant مُنقَضِبis severed
وَلا حَبلُ ميثاقِهِم مُنقَضِب
He is of a people whose neighbor is never surrendered
and whose covenant-rope is never severed.
تَذِلُّare humbled لَهُمbefore them سَطَواتُthe assaults الأَسودِof lions
تَذِلُّ لَهُم سَطَواتُ الأَسودِ
وَتَشقىand are outdone البُدورُthe full moons بِهِمby them وَالسُحُبand the clouds
وَتَشقى البُدورُ بِهِم وَالسُحُب
The assaults of lions are humbled before them,
while full moons and clouds are outdone by them.
بِهِمthrough them سارَtraveled ذِكرِيَmy renown بَينَamong الأَنامِhumankind
بِهِم سارَ ذِكرِيَ بَينَ الأَنامِ
وَفَضليand my merit إِلىto جودِهِمtheir generosity مُنتَسِبclaims kinship
وَفَضلي إِلى جودِهِم مُنتَسِب
Through them my renown has traveled among humankind,
and my merit claims kinship with their generosity.
وَلَمand did not تَعتَلِقcling حينَwhen أَعلَقتُهاI fastened it
وَلَم تَعتَلِق حينَ أَعلَقتُها
يَديmy hand مِنهُمُfrom them بِضَعيفِto a weak السَبَبcord
يَدي مِنهُمُ بِضَعيفِ السَبَب
When I fastened it, my hand did not cling
to a frail cord from them.
وَصُلتُI gained ascendancy عَلىover الدَهرِTime مِنthrough بَأسِهِمtheir might
وَصُلتُ عَلى الدَهرِ مِن بَأسِهِم
بِعَضبٍwith a sharp sword إِذاwhen مَسَّit touched شَيئاًanything قَضَبit cut it
بِعَضبٍ إِذا مَسَّ شَيئاً قَضَب
Through their might I gained ascendancy over Time,
with a keen sword that cuts whatever it touches.
وَعَوَّلتُand I relied مِنهُمamong them عَلىupon ماجِدٍa glorious man
وَعَوَّلتُ مِنهُم عَلى ماجِدٍ
إِذاwhenever غالَبَتهُthey contended with him اللَياليthe nights غَلَبhe prevailed
إِذا غالَبَتهُ اللَيالي غَلَب
Among them I relied upon a glorious man
who prevails whenever the nights contend with him:
كَريمِnoble الشَمائِلِin traits طَلقِopen اليَدينِof both hands
كَريمِ الشَمائِلِ طَلقِ اليَدينِ
حُلوِsweet الفُكاهَةِin wit مُرِّbitter الغَضَبin anger
حُلوِ الفُكاهَةِ مُرِّ الغَضَب
noble in character, openhanded,
sweet in wit and bitter in anger.
هُوَhe الغَيثُthe rain إِنif عَمَّbecame general جَدبٌdrought أَثابَhe recompensed
هُوَ الغَيثُ إِن عَمَّ جَدبٌ أَثابَ
وَاللَيثُand the lion إِنif عَنَّappeared خَطبٌa crisis وَثَبhe sprang
وَاللَيثُ إِن عَنَّ خَطبٌ وَثَب
He is rain: when drought spreads, he brings recompense;
and a lion: when crisis appears, he springs.
فَمُنصُلُهُso his blade مِنwith دِماءِthe blood العِشارِof full-term she-camels
فَمُنصُلُهُ مِن دِماءِ العِشارِ
أَوor مِنwith دِماءِthe blood العِدىof enemies مُختَصِبrichly stained
أَو مِن دِماءِ العِدى مُختَصِب
His blade is richly stained with the blood of full-term she-camels
or with the blood of enemies.
جَوادٌa generous man تُزَمُّare saddled مَطاياthe mounts الرَجاءِof hope
جَوادٌ تُزَمُّ مَطايا الرَجاءِ
إِلىtoward بابِهِhis gate وَرِكابُand the riding beasts الطَلَبof petition
إِلى بابِهِ وَرِكابُ الطَلَب
A generous man—the mounts of hope are saddled
toward his gate, as are the steeds of petition.
فَلاso not ظَلُّthe shade إِحسانِهِof his beneficence قالِصٌis shrinking
فَلا ظَلُّ إِحسانِهِ قالِصٌ
وَلاand not شَمسُthe sun مَعروفِهِof his kindness تَحتَجِبis veiled
وَلا شَمسُ مَعروفِهِ تَحتَجِب
The shade of his beneficence never shrinks,
nor is the sun of his kindness veiled.
إِذاwhen فالَhe speaks أَبدَعَhe excels فيماin what يَقولُhe says
إِذا فالَ أَبدَعَ فيما يَقولُ
وَإِنand if جادَhe gives generously أَجزَلَhe makes ample فيماwhat يَهَبhe bestows
وَإِن جادَ أَجزَلَ فيما يَهَب
When he speaks, he excels in what he says;
when he gives, he makes ample what he bestows:
نَدىًgenerosity يَستَميلُwins over فُؤادَthe heart الحَسودِof the envier
نَدىً يَستَميلُ فُؤادَ الحَسودِ
وَبَأساًand valor يَرُدُّrepels الخَميسَthe army اللَجِبthe clamorous
وَبَأساً يَرُدُّ الخَميسَ اللَجِب
generosity that wins the envier’s heart,
and valor that turns back a clamorous army.
وَقىhe protected عِرضَهُhis honor وَحَمىand defended جارَهُhis neighbor
وَقى عِرضَهُ وَحَمى جارَهُ
وَأَموالُهُand his wealth عُرضَةٌis exposed تُنتَهَبto be plundered
وَأَموالُهُ عُرضَةٌ تُنتَهَب
He guards his honor and protects his neighbor,
while his wealth lies exposed to plunder,
عَلىupon ثِقَةٍcertainty أَنَّهُthat he لَيسَis not بِالas the—
عَلى ثِقَةٍ أَنَّهُ لَيسَ بِال
مُحَصَّلِ—one who secures مِنهاfrom it سِوىexcept ماwhat ذَهَبhas gone or been spent
مُحَصَّلِ مِنها سِوى ما ذَهَب
certain that he is not the—
—one to secure from it anything but what has gone.
وَلَولاand were it not for الأَجَلُّthe most august تَفانىwould die away الكِرامُthe noble
وَلَولا الأَجَلُّ تَفانى الكِرامُ
وَغيضَand would be diminished السَماحُgenerosity وَضَيمَand would be wronged الأَدَبletters or refinement
وَغيضَ السَماحُ وَضَيمَ الأَدَب
Were it not for this most august man, the noble would die away,
generosity would be diminished, and letters oppressed.
وَلَمّاand when تَقَلَّصَcontracted ظِلُّthe shade الرِجالِof men
وَلَمّا تَقَلَّصَ ظِلُّ الرِجالِ
لَجَأتُI sought refuge إِلىin عيصِهِhis dense thicket المُؤتَشِبthe interwoven
لَجَأتُ إِلى عيصِهِ المُؤتَشِب
When the shade of men contracted,
I sought refuge in his densely interwoven thicket.
فَأَنضَبَso dried up ماءَthe water الوُجوهِof faces السُؤالُasking
فَأَنضَبَ ماءَ الوُجوهِ السُؤالُ
وَوَجهيbut my face بِجَمَّتِهat his abundant pool ماnot نَضَبdried up
وَوَجهي بِجَمَّتِه ما نَضَب
Asking had drained the water of faces,
but at his abundant pool my face did not run dry.
إِذاbehold الفاضِلُthe virtuous الماجِدُthe glorious الأَريَحيُّthe openhanded
إِذا الفاضِلُ الماجِدُ الأَريَحيُّ
وَجَلَّتand rose above مَناقِبُهُhis virtues عَنbeyond لَقَبa title
وَجَلَّت مَناقِبُهُ عَن لَقَب
Behold the virtuous, glorious, openhanded man,
whose virtues rise beyond any title.
سَقَتنيgave me drink يَداهُhis two hands فَقُلso tell لِلغَمامِthe clouds
سَقَتني يَداهُ فَقُل لِلغَمامِ
مَتىwhenever شِئتَyou wish فَاِقلِعthen stop وَإِنand if شِئتَyou wish صُبpour
مَتى شِئتَ فَاِقلِع وَإِن شِئتَ صُب
His two hands gave me drink, so tell the clouds:
“Stop whenever you wish, or pour whenever you wish.”
كَفانيspared me نَداهُhis bounty سُرىthe night travel اليَعمَلاتِof stout camels
كَفاني نَداهُ سُرى اليَعمَلاتِ
وَوَخدَand the swift pace القِلاصِof young she-camels المَهاريthe fleet النُجُبthe noble
وَوَخدَ القِلاصِ المَهاري النُجُب
His bounty spared me the stout camels’ night travel
and the fleet, noble young camels’ hurried pace.
وَراضَتand tamed عَطاياهُhis gifts حَظيmy fortune الحَرونَthe balky
وَراضَت عَطاياهُ حَظي الحَرونَ
فَأَصحَبَso it became tractable فيin كَفِّهِhis palm وَاِنجَذَبand was drawn along
فَأَصحَبَ في كَفِّهِ وَاِنجَذَب
His gifts tamed my balky fortune,
so it grew tractable in his palm and yielded.
وَرَفَّتand fluttered غُصونِيَmy branches بَعدَafter الذُبولِwithering
وَرَفَّت غُصونِيَ بَعدَ الذُبولِ
بِهِthrough him وَاِكتَسىand put on العودُthe bough بَعدَafter السَلَبbeing stripped
بِهِ وَاِكتَسى العودُ بَعدَ السَلَب
My branches fluttered after withering through him,
and the stripped bough clothed itself anew.
فَياO then نَجمَstar سَعديof my good fortune الَّذيthat لاnot يَغيبُsets
فَيا نَجمَ سَعدي الَّذي لا يَغيبُ
وَياand O غَيثَrain أَرضيof my land الَّذيthat لاnot يَغِبfails to come
وَيا غَيثَ أَرضي الَّذي لا يَغِب
O star of my good fortune that never sets,
O rain of my land that never fails!
فَداكَmay ransom you بَخيلٌa miser عَلىover مالِهِhis wealth
فَداكَ بَخيلٌ عَلى مالِهِ
يَعُدُّhe counts المَناقِبَdeeds of glory جَمعَcollecting الذَهَبgold
يَعُدُّ المَناقِبَ جَمعَ الذَهَب
May every miser guarding his wealth ransom you—
one who counts hoarding gold among deeds of glory,
بَطيءُslow المَساعيin endeavors عَنِaway from المَكرُماتِnoble deeds
بَطيءُ المَساعي عَنِ المَكرُماتِ
سَريعٌswift إِلىtoward موبِقاتِthe ruinous sins الرُتَبof rank
سَريعٌ إِلى موبِقاتِ الرُتَب
slow to strive for noble acts,
swift toward sins that ruin rank.
إِذاwhen عَقَدَتmade or bound كَفَّهُhis hand مَوعِداًa promise
إِذا عَقَدَت كَفَّهُ مَوعِداً
لَواهُhe twisted or broke it وَإِنand if قالَhe said قَولاًa word كَذَبhe lied
لَواهُ وَإِن قالَ قَولاً كَذَب
When his hand makes a promise,
he twists it away; and if he gives his word, he lies.
يَرُدُّhe sends back مُؤَمِّلَهُone who hopes in him خائِباًdisappointed
يَرُدُّ مُؤَمِّلَهُ خائِباً
يُرَدِّدُrepeating واalas سَوأَةَthe evil المُنقَلَبof the return
يُرَدِّدُ وا سَوأَةَ المُنقَلَب
He sends one who hopes in him away disappointed,
repeating, “Alas, what an evil return!”
يُسِرُّhe conceals العَداواةَenmity فيwithin نَفسِهِhimself
يُسِرُّ العَداواةَ في نَفسِهِ
وَشَرُّand the worst الحَقيبَةِburden ماis what يَحتَقِبone carries concealed
وَشَرُّ الحَقيبَةِ ما يَحتَقِب
He harbors enmity within himself,
and the worst burden is what a man carries concealed.
يَراكَhe sees you فَتَبرُدُand so grow cold أَعضائُهُhis limbs
يَراكَ فَتَبرُدُ أَعضائُهُ
وَفيand in صَدرِهِhis breast جَذوَةٌan ember تَلتَهِبblazes
وَفي صَدرِهِ جَذوَةٌ تَلتَهِب
When he sees you, his limbs grow cold,
though in his breast an ember blazes.
فَخُذso take مِنof ثَنائِكَyour praise ماwhat أَستَطيعُI can
فَخُذ مِن ثَنائِكَ ما أَستَطيعُ
فَنُطقيfor my speech يُقَصِّرُfalls short عَمّاof what يَجِبis due
فَنُطقي يُقَصِّرُ عَمّا يَجِب
Take, then, as much praise of you as I can give,
for my speech falls short of what is due.
وَدونَكَand here for you مِنّيfrom me ثَناءَthe praise الوَليِّof the loyal friend
وَدونَكَ مِنّي ثَناءَ الوَليِّ
يُخَلِّصِهِthat purifies it وَدُعاءَand the prayer المُحِبof the lover
يُخَلِّصِهِ وَدُعاءَ المُحِب
Here is, from me, the praise of a loyal friend,
purified for you, together with a lover’s prayer:
عَرائِسَbrides ماnot كُنتُI was فيin نَظمِهاcomposing them
عَرائِسَ ما كُنتُ في نَظمِها
بِخابِطِas one blundering لَيلٍat night وَلاnor مُحتَطِبa gatherer of firewood
بِخابِطِ لَيلٍ وَلا مُحتَطِب
brides of verse in whose composition I was no
blunderer by night, nor random gatherer of firewood;
مِنَamong العَرَبِيّاتِArabic-born poems لَمّاnot yet يُزَنَّis accused
مِنَ العَرَبِيّاتِ لَمّا يُزَنَّ
والِدُهُنَّtheir father وَلَمّاand not yet يَخِبhas he failed
والِدُهُنَّ وَلَمّا يَخِب
Arabic-born brides whose father has never yet been accused
and has never yet failed.
فَأَضحَتso became بِهِنَّwith them صُدورُthe memories الرُواةِof transmitters
فَأَضحَت بِهِنَّ صُدورُ الرُواةِ
مَملُؤَةًfilled وَبُطونُand the bellies الكُتُبof books
مَملُؤَةً وَبُطونُ الكُتُب
The memories of transmitters have become filled with them,
as have the bellies of books.
وَسيرَتُهاand their course فيكَabout you تَطويtraverses البِلادَthe lands
وَسيرَتُها فيكَ تَطوي البِلادَ
فَأَيَّso what حُزونِrugged tracts فَلاًof wilderness لَمdid not تَجُبit traverse
فَأَيَّ حُزونِ فَلاً لَم تَجُب
Their course in praise of you traverses the lands;
what rugged wilderness has it not crossed?
وَجَوَّدَهاand perfected them فيكَabout you أَنّيthat I بِهاthrough them
وَجَوَّدَها فيكَ أَنّي بِها
مُوالٍam loyal لِمَجدِكَto your glory لاnot مُكتَسِبseeking gain
مُوالٍ لِمَجدِكَ لا مُكتَسِب
What perfected them in praising you is that through them
I am loyal to your glory, not seeking gain.
فَلاso may you not زِلتَcease وارِثَthe inheritor عُمرِof the lifespan الزَمانِof Time
فَلا زِلتَ وارِثَ عُمرِ الزَمانِ
تُبليyou wear out ثِيابَthe garments البَقاءِof eternity القُشُبthe new
تُبلي ثِيابَ البَقاءِ القُشُب
May you never cease to inherit the lifespan of Time,
wearing out eternity’s ever-new garments.
تُبَشِّرُbring glad tidings مُلكَكَto your reign أَعوامُهُits years
تُبَشِّرُ مُلكَكَ أَعوامُهُ
بِكَرِّwith the recurrence السِنينَof years وَمَرِّand the passage الحِقَبof ages
بِكَرِّ السِنينَ وَمَرِّ الحِقَب
May its years bring your reign glad tidings
with the returning years and the passing ages.
Translation model: Sol 5.6