شَطّتwent far away بجارَتِكَwith your neighbor النَوىseparation فَتَحَمَّلِso endure it
شَطّت بجارَتِكَ النَوى فَتَحَمَّلِ
وَنَأَتكَand she withdrew from you بَعدَafter مَوَدَّةٍaffection وَتَدَلُّلِand coyness
وَنَأَتكَ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ وَتَدَلُّلِ
Separation has borne your neighbor far away; endure it.
She has gone far from you, after affection and coy endearments.
وَلئِنand if indeed فَعَلتِyou did so لَقَدindeed عَلَتنيhas overtaken me كَبرَةٌold age
وَلئِن فَعَلتِ لَقَد عَلَتني كَبرَةٌ
وَأَطَلتُand I prolonged صَرمَكِsevering ties with you فَاِهجُرينيso forsake me أَوor صِليrenew ties with me
وَأَطَلتُ صَرمَكِ فَاِهجُريني أَو صِلي
Though you have done so, old age has indeed overtaken me,
and I have prolonged my estrangement from you; forsake me, or renew our bond.
وَأَسيلَةِand smooth الخَدَّينِthe two cheeks ساجٍlanguid طَرفُهاher gaze
وَأَسيلَةِ الخَدَّينِ ساجٍ طَرفُها
بَيضاءَfair-skinned مونِقَةٍdelightful لعَينِto the eye of المُجتَليthe beholder
بَيضاءَ مونِقَةٍ لعَينِ المُجتَلي
And many a smooth-cheeked woman, with a languid gaze,
fair and delightful to the beholder's eye,
خَودٌa tender maiden مِنَamong اللائيthose women who يَمُسنَwalk swaying تَأَوُّداًwith a graceful sway
خَودٌ مِنَ اللائي يَمُسنَ تَأَوُّداً
مَشيَthe gait of المِياهِwild cows عَلىover الكَثيبِthe dune الأَهيلِloose-sanded
مَشيَ المِياهِ عَلى الكَثيبِ الأَهيلِ
a tender maiden among those who walk with swaying grace,
with the gait of wild cows on a loose-sanded dune,
لاقَيتُI met فيin غَربِthe ardor of الشَبابِyouth فَلَمso not يَكُنwas
لاقَيتُ في غَربِ الشَبابِ فَلَم يَكُن
قَلبيmy heart لَهاfor her غَرَضاًa target وَلَمand not أَستَقتِلِI became love-maddened
قَلبي لَها غَرَضاً وَلَم أَستَقتِلِ
I met in the ardor of youth; yet
my heart was no target for her, nor was I consumed by passion.
وَأَناand I اِمرُؤٌa man مِنّيfrom me العَفافُchastity وَلَمand not أَكُنI was
وَأَنا اِمرُؤٌ مِنّي العَفافُ وَلَم أَكُن
دَنِسَsoiled الثِيابِthe garments وَلاnor مُريبَsuspect المَدخَلِin conduct
دَنِسَ الثِيابِ وَلا مُريبَ المَدخَلِ
I am a man whose nature is chastity, and I have never been
soiled in my garments, nor suspect in my conduct.
أَفَلاwill you not تَناساهاtry to forget her وَتَترُكُand abandon ذِكرَهاher memory
أَفَلا تَناساها وَتَترُكُ ذِكرَها
إِذاwhen حَمَّلَتكَshe burdened you أَخالَI think ماwhat لَمnot تَحمِلِyou bore
إِذا حَمَّلَتكَ أَخالَ ما لَم تَحمِلِ
Will you not put her out of mind and cease remembering her,
when she has burdened you, I think, with what you have never borne,
بِعُذافِرٍon a sturdy camel يُشريmakes toss الجَديلَthe braided rein كَأَنَّهُas though it were
بِعُذافِرٍ يُشري الجَديلَ كَأَنَّهُ
عَيرٌa wild jackass تَصَيَّفَspent the summer فيamong نَحائِصِlean jennies ذُبَّلِwasted
عَيرٌ تَصَيَّفَ في نَحائِصِ ذُبَّلِ
astride a sturdy camel that tosses its braided rein, as though it were
a wild jackass that summered among lean, wasted jennies?
شُزَّبٌgaunt ذوابِلُwithered يَتَقينَthey ward off لَبانَهُhis breast
شُزَّبٌ ذوابِلُ يَتَقينَ لَبانَهُ
وَجَبينَهُand his forehead بِسنابِكٍwith hooves كَالجَندَلِlike stone
وَجَبينَهُ بِسنابِكٍ كَالجَندَلِ
Gaunt and withered, they ward off his breast
and his forehead with hooves hard as stone.
أَرِنٌfrisky يَعَضُّhe bites بكاذِهِنَّtheir haunches كَأَنَّهُas though he were
أَرِنٌ يَعَضُّ بكاذِهِنَّ كَأَنَّهُ
قِدحٌan arrow shaft يَظَلُّspends the day بِهِwith it المُناضِلُthe competing archer يَغتَليshooting far
قِدحٌ يَظَلُّ بِهِ المُناضِلُ يَغتَلي
Frisky, he bites their haunches, as though he were
an arrow shaft the competing archer keeps shooting far.
بَينَbetween السُمَيَّةِal-Sumayyah وَالسَنانِand al-Sanan يَجِنُّهاshelters them
بَينَ السُمَيَّةِ وَالسَنانِ يَجِنُّها
مِنهُfrom him بِكُلِّat every حَجاجِedge of رَوضٍa meadow مُبقِلِlush with plants
مِنهُ بِكُلِّ حَجاجِ رَوضٍ مُبقِلِ
Between al-Sumayyah and al-Sanan, they are sheltered
from him along every edge of a green meadow,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen رَمَتِstruck الهَواجِرُthe noonday heats فيinto الثَرىthe moist earth
حَتّى إِذا رَمَتِ الهَواجِرُ في الثَرى
وَالنَبتِand the plants بَعدَafter بَلولَةٍmoisture وَتَرَبُّلِand luxuriant growth
وَالنَبتِ بَعدَ بَلولَةٍ وَتَرَبُّلِ
until, when the noonday heats struck the soil
and the plants, after moisture and luxuriant growth,
وَلَبِسنَand they donned لَوناًa color بَعدَafter آخَرَanother وَاِنجَلَتand fell away
وَلَبِسنَ لَوناً بَعدَ آخَرَ وَاِنجَلَت
عَنهُنَّfrom them هِبرِيَّةُthe flaky scurf of الشَياهِsheep المُنسِلِshedding
عَنهُنَّ هِبرِيَّةُ الشَياهِ المُنسِلِ
and they had donned one color after another, and there had fallen
from them the flaky scurf of shedding sheep's wool,
وَشَرِبنَand they drank كُلَّevery بقِيَّةٍremnant صادَفنَهاthey found it
وَشَرِبنَ كُلَّ بقِيَّةٍ صادَفنَها
فيon الأَرضِthe ground مِنfrom مَطَرِthe rain of السِماكِal-Simak الأَعزَلِal-A'zal (the Unarmed)
في الأَرضِ مِن مَطَرِ السِماكِ الأَعزَلِ
and they had drunk every remnant they found
on the ground of the rain of al-Simak al-A'zal,
راحَتthe herd departed وَراحَand he departed مِنَfrom الفَلاةِthe wilderness فَأَصبَحاso by morning both were
راحَت وَراحَ مِنَ الفَلاةِ فَأَصبَحا
بِمَجامِعِat the meeting places of التَلَعاتِthe gullies فَوقَabove الضُلضَلِal-Duldal
بِمَجامِعِ التَلَعاتِ فَوقَ الضُلضَلِ
they and he left the wilderness; by morning they were
where the gullies meet, above al-Duldal.
فَظَلَلنَso they spent the day مِنof واديthe valley of الذِبابِal-Dhibab بِشُعبَةٍin a branch
فَظَلَلنَ مِن وادي الذِبابِ بِشُعبَةٍ
أَوor بِالأخيرِمِat al-Ukhayrim قارِباتِnear المنهَلِthe watering place
أَو بِالأخيرِمِ قارِباتِ المنهَلِ
They spent the day in a branch of Wadi al-Dhibab,
or at al-Ukhayrim, close to the watering place.
فَوَرَدنَهُso they approached it وَنُهودُهُنَّand their chests نَواشِرٌthrust forward
فَوَرَدنَهُ وَنُهودُهُنَّ نَواشِرٌ
وَعُيونُهُنَّand their eyes سَواهِرٌwakeful لَمnot لَمnot تَغفَلِgrew heedless
وَعُيونُهُنَّ سَواهِرٌ لَم لَم تَغفَلِ
They approached it, their chests thrust forward,
and their eyes wakeful, never, never heedless.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِختَلَطَthickened الظَلامُthe darkness وَرَدنَهُthey approached it
حَتّى إِذا اِختَلَطَ الظَلامُ وَرَدنَهُ
وَلَقدand indeed بَكَينَthey cried out بِهَيبَةٍin fear وَتَجَفُّلِand skittish alarm
وَلَقد بَكَينَ بِهَيبَةٍ وَتَجَفُّلِ
Until, when darkness thickened, they came down to it;
and indeed they cried out in fear, ready to bolt.
فَأَتَينَso they came upon مَشرَفاًa tall horse يَمُدُّstraining عَنانَهُhis rein
فَأَتَينَ مَشرَفاً يَمُدُّ عَنانَهُ
وَيَدُand the hand of الغُلامِthe lad بِطَعنَةٍwith a thrust فيinto المَسحِلِthe wild jackass
وَيَدُ الغُلامِ بِطَعنَةٍ في المَسحِلِ
They came upon a tall horse, straining at its rein,
and the lad's hand poised for a thrust into the wild jack.
مَحَصَّlean and sinewy الشَوىthe limbs ماnothing مِنin يَدَيهِhis forelegs يَخونُهُfails him
مَحَصَّ الشَوى ما مِن يَدَيهِ يَخونُهُ
عَظمُenlargement of الشَظاةthe splint-bone وَلاnor اِنتِشارُswelling of الأَبجَلِthe leg-vein
عَظمُ الشَظاة وَلا اِنتِشارُ الأَبجَلِ
Lean of limb, nothing in his forelegs failed him—
neither an enlarged splint-bone nor a swollen leg-vein.
وَتَرىand you see لَغَرِّby the groove of نَساهُhis thigh-sinew غَيباًa hollow غامِضاًdeep
وَتَرى لَغَرِّ نَساهُ غَيباً غامِضاً
قَلِقَmoving freely الخَصيلَةِthe muscle مِنfrom فُوَيقِjust above المِفصَلِthe joint
قَلِقَ الخَصيلَةِ مِن فُوَيقِ المِفصَلِ
By the groove of his thigh-sinew you see a deep hollow,
its muscle moving freely just above the joint.
فَالكَعبُso the hock أَصمَعُcompact وَالقَطاةُand the croup يَزينُهاadorns it
فَالكَعبُ أَصمَعُ وَالقَطاةُ يَزينُها
هادٍa neck لَهُhe has قَرواًa back شَديدَstrong المَوصِلِat the junction
هادٍ لَهُ قَرواً شَديدَ المَوصِلِ
His hock is compact, and his croup is graced
by a neck firmly joined to his back.
فَرَمىso he launched بِهِwith him أَدبارَهُنَّtheir hindquarters غُلامُناour lad
فَرَمى بِهِ أَدبارَهُنَّ غُلامُنا
لَمّاwhen اِستَتَبَّran straight بِهِwith him وَلَمand not يَستَدخِلِheld back
لَمّا اِستَتَبَّ بِهِ وَلَم يَستَدخِلِ
Our lad launched him after their hindquarters,
once he had him running straight, without holding back.
شَمسٌskittish جَوانِحُswerving يَعتَدينَthey raced وَقَدand already دَناdrew near
شَمسٌ جَوانِحُ يَعتَدينَ وَقَد دَنا
يَهودِيٌّYahudi بِفارِسِهِwith his rider هَوِيَّthe swoop of الأَجدَلِthe falcon
يَهودِيٌّ بِفارِسِهِ هَوِيَّ الأَجدَلِ
Skittish and swerving, they raced, while close behind came
Yahudi with his rider, in a falcon's swoop.
يَغتالَهُنَّpounces on them إِذاwhen السَنابِكthe hooves أَسهَلَتreached level ground
يَغتالَهُنَّ إِذا السَنابِك أَسهَلَت
وَإِذاand when عَلَونَthey climbed حَزونَةٍrough ground لَمnot يَفشَلِhe faltered
وَإِذا عَلَونَ حَزونَةٍ لَم يَفشَلِ
He pounced on them when the hooves reached level ground,
and when they climbed rough ground, he did not falter.
حَسَناًfine طَرِيّاًfresh يَشتَفونَthey take their fill بِطَعمِهِwith its flavor
حَسَناً طَرِيّاً يَشتَفونَ بِطَعمِهِ
وَقِتارِهِand its roasting aroma لَمnot يَسبِقوهُthey preceded it بِمَأكَلِwith a meal
وَقِتارِهِ لَم يَسبِقوهُ بِمَأكَلِ
Fine, fresh meat: they took their fill of its flavor
and its roasting scent, with no food eaten before it.
فَبَنىso he built لَناfor us ضلاًshade (unclear spelling) وَظَلَّand remained لَناtoward us رَناgazed
فَبَنى لَنا ضلاً وَظَلَّ لَنا رَنا
لَهَبٌa flame أُعينَwas aided بِحاطِبٍby a wood-gatherer مُستَعجِلِhurrying
لَهَبٌ أُعينَ بِحاطِبٍ مُستَعجِلِ
He built us shade, and there stood gazing toward us
a flame, fed by a wood-gatherer in haste.
طَوراًat times يَطفيهِquenches it الشِتاءُwinter وَتارَةًand at other times
طَوراً يَطفيهِ الشِتاءُ وَتارَةً
يَعلوraises سَناهُits glow هَشيمُdry brushwood of شَيخٍan old man مِشعَلِkindling fire
يَعلو سَناهُ هَشيمُ شَيخٍ مِشعَلِ
At times winter quenched it; at others
the dry brushwood of an old fire-kindler raised its glow.
فَهَلso will أَنتَyou مُنصَرِفٌturning back فَتَنظُرand then look ماwhat الَّذيwhich
فَهَل أَنتَ مُنصَرِفٌ فَتَنظُر ما الَّذي
أَبقىleft الحَوادِثُtime's vicissitudes مِنof رُسومِthe traces of المَنزِلِthe dwelling
أَبقى الحَوادِثُ مِن رُسومِ المَنزِلِ
Will you turn back, then, and see what
time's vicissitudes have left of the dwelling's traces?
دارٌa dwelling بِإِحدىat one of الرِجلَتَينِthe two al-Rijlahs كَأَنَّهاas though it
دارٌ بِإِحدى الرِجلَتَينِ كَأَنَّها
قَدalready عُفَّيَتwas effaced حِجَجاًfor years وَلَمّاand not yet تُحلَلِwas inhabited
قَد عُفَّيَت حِجَجاً وَلَمّا تُحلَلِ
A dwelling at one of the two al-Rijlahs, as though it
had been effaced for years and never yet inhabited.
وَكَأَنَّand as though سُهكَthe scouring blasts of المُعصِراتِrain-bearing winds كَسَونَهاthey clothed it
وَكَأَنَّ سُهكَ المُعصِراتِ كَسَونَها
تُربَthe dust of الفَدافِدِwastelands وَاليَفاعِand high ground بِمُنخُلِthrough a sieve
تُربَ الفَدافِدِ وَاليَفاعِ بِمُنخُلِ
As though the scouring, rain-bearing winds had clothed it
in dust from wastelands and heights, sifted through a sieve.
لَعِبَتplayed بِضاحيهاover its open ground الرِياحُthe winds فَأَصبَحَتso it became
لَعِبَت بِضاحيها الرِياحُ فَأَصبَحَت
لَأياًwith difficulty تَأَمَّلَهاdiscerned it شِفاthe limit of المُتَأَمِّلِthe observer
لَأياً تَأَمَّلَها شِفا المُتَأَمِّلِ
The winds played over its open ground, until it became
barely discernible at the limit of a watcher's gaze.
وَكَذاكَand thus يَعلوoverwhelms الدَهرُtime كُلَّevery مَحَلَّةٍdwelling
وَكَذاكَ يَعلو الدَهرُ كُلَّ مَحَلَّةٍ
حَتّىuntil تَصيرَit becomes كَأَنَّهاas though it لَمnot تَنزِلِwas inhabited
حَتّى تَصيرَ كَأَنَّها لَم تَنزِلِ
Thus time overwhelms every dwelling,
until it seems never to have been inhabited.
لاno يَومَday إِلّاexcept سَوفَwill يورِثُهُinherit it غَدٌa tomorrow
لا يَومَ إِلّا سَوفَ يورِثُهُ غَدٌ
وَالعامُand the year تارِكُهُleaving it لِآخرَto another مُقبِلِapproaching
وَالعامُ تارِكُهُ لِآخرَ مُقبِلِ
There is no day that a tomorrow will not inherit,
and the year hands it on to another year approaching.
فَسُقيتِso may you be watered مِنas دارٍa dwelling وَإِنand even if لَمnot تَسمَعيyou hear
فَسُقيتِ مِن دارٍ وَإِن لَم تَسمَعي
أَصواتَناour voices صَوبَthe downpour of الرَبيعِspring المُسبَلِpouring freely
أَصواتَنا صَوبَ الرَبيعِ المُسبَلِ
May you be watered, dwelling, though you cannot hear
our voices, with the freely pouring rain of spring.
قَدindeed كانَwere أَهلُكِyour people مَرَّةًonce لَكِfor you زينَةًan adornment
قَد كانَ أَهلُكِ مَرَّةً لَكِ زينَةً
فَاِستُبدِلواso they were exchanged بِدَلاًa substitute وَلَمand not تُستَبدَليyou were exchanged
فَاِستُبدِلوا بِدَلاً وَلَم تُستَبدَلي
Your people once were your adornment;
they were exchanged for others, but you were not exchanged.
فَاِبكيso weep إِذاwhen بَكَتِweep المَنازِلُthe dwellings أَهلَهاfor their people
فَاِبكي إِذا بَكَتِ المَنازِلُ أَهلَها
مَعذورَةًjustified وَظَلَمتِand you did wrong إِنif لَمnot تَفعَليyou do so
مَعذورَةً وَظَلَمتِ إِن لَم تَفعَلي
So weep when dwellings weep for their people,
justified in mourning; you would wrong them if you did not.
أَهلاًpeople كَرماًnoble مَنwho يَحُلُّكِinhabits you مِثلَهُمlike them
أَهلاً كَرماً مَن يَحُلُّكِ مِثلَهُم
فيin ذاthis الَزمانِage وَلاnor الزَمانِthe age المُقبِلِto come
في ذا الَزمانِ وَلا الزَمانِ المُقبِلِ
Noble people! Who could inhabit you like them
in this age, or in the age yet to come?
تَرَكواthey left الأَخاديدَthe trenches الَّتيwhich صَرَفواthey diverted بِهاby them
تَرَكوا الأَخاديدَ الَّتي صَرَفوا بِها
عَنaway from فَرشِهِمtheir bedding قَضَضَthe gravel of التِلاعِthe gullies المُسبِلِwashing down
عَن فَرشِهِم قَضَضَ التِلاعِ المُسبِلِ
They left the trenches by which they had diverted
away from their bedding the gravel washed down the gullies,
وَرَمادَand the ashes of نارٍa fire قَدalready تَهَيَّأَbecame ready لِلبَلىfor decay
وَرَمادَ نارٍ قَد تَهَيَّأَ لِلبَلى
فَسَوادُso the blackness of شامَتِهِits spot كَمَتنِlike the surface of الخَردَلِmustard seed
فَسَوادُ شامَتِهِ كَمَتنِ الخَردَلِ
and ashes of a fire now ready to crumble away,
its dark spot like the surface of a mustard seed,
بَعدَafter السَوامِthe grazing herds وَبَعدَand after أَبنَيَةٍtents بِهاin it
بَعدَ السَوامِ وَبَعدَ أَبنَيَةٍ بِها
لاnot عَزَّwas inaccessible مِعطاءَthe lavish giver of الجَزيلِabundance مُسَأَلِa petitioner
لا عَزَّ مِعطاءَ الجَزيلِ مُسَأَلِ
after the grazing herds and the tents once there.
No petitioner found the giver of abundance inaccessible.
تَرَكَhe shunned الفَواحِشَindecencies مُذsince تَرَعرَعَhe grew up يافِعاًas a youth
تَرَكَ الفَواحِشَ مُذ تَرَعرَعَ يافِعاً
وَنَماand rose إِلىto الحَسَبِancestral honor الرَفيعِexalted الأَفضَلِsurpassing
وَنَما إِلى الحَسَبِ الرَفيعِ الأَفضَلِ
He shunned foul deeds from his earliest youth,
and rose to the loftiest, finest ancestral honor,
مِنfrom مَنصَبِthe rank of العُربِthe Arabs الَّذيwhich ماnot فَوقَهُabove it
مِن مَنصَبِ العُربِ الَّذي ما فَوقَهُ
لِلَناسِfor mankind مِنany شَرَفٍhonor وَلاnor مُتَمَهِّلِa further station
لِلَناسِ مِن شَرَفٍ وَلا مُتَمَهِّلِ
from that rank among the Arabs above which
no one has higher honor, nor any further station.
وَلَرُبَّand many a مُغتَبِطٍdelighted كَريمٍnoble قَدindeed غَداwent forth
وَلَرُبَّ مُغتَبِطٍ كَريمٍ قَد غَدا
مِنfrom عِندِهِhis presence بهجاًjoyful بِنَفخَةِwith an outpouring from مُجزِلِa lavish giver
مِن عِندِهِ بهجاً بِنَفخَةِ مُجزِلِ
Many a delighted nobleman has gone forth
from his presence, joyful at a lavish giver's outpouring.
وَغَريبِand a stranger of قَومٍa people أَسلَموهُthey abandoned him لِماto what بِهِwas upon him
وَغَريبِ قَومٍ أَسلَموهُ لِما بِهِ
وَمَتىand whenever تَراهُyou see him كَالخَليعِlike an outcast المُهمَلِneglected
وَمَتى تَراهُ كَالخَليعِ المُهمَلِ
And many a stranger, abandoned by his people to his plight—
whenever you see him, like an outcast left untended—
لَمnot يَلتَفِتturned أَحَدٌanyone إِلَيهِtoward him وَلَمand not يَجِدhe found
لَم يَلتَفِت أَحَدٌ إِلَيهِ وَلَم يَجِد
إِلّاexcept نَداكَyour bounty فَكُنتَso you were خَيرَthe best مُعَولِrefuge
إِلّا نَداكَ فَكُنتَ خَيرَ مُعَولِ
no one turned toward him, and he found
nothing but your bounty; you were the best refuge.
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon أَورَثَهُbestowed on it الغَمامُthe clouds ظِلالَهُits shadows
كَالبَدرِ أَورَثَهُ الغَمامُ ظِلالَهُ
طَوراًat one time وَطَوراًand at another يَستَنيرُit shines فَيَنجَليso emerges clear
طَوراً وَطَوراً يَستَنيرُ فَيَنجَلي
Like the full moon, to which clouds bequeath their shadows
at one time, while at another it shines and emerges clear.
يُطريextol رِجالٌmen فيin الخَلاءِsolitude نُفوسَهُمthemselves
يُطري رِجالٌ في الخَلاءِ نُفوسَهُم
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتَهُمyou see them مَعاًtogether لَمnot تَعدِلِyou judge equally
وَإِذا رَأَيتَهُم مَعاً لَم تَعدِلِ
Men extol themselves in private,
but when you see them together, you do not reckon them equals.
وَإِذاand when رَأَيتَyou see جَماعَةًan assembly هُوَhe فيهِمُamong them
وَإِذا رَأَيتَ جَماعَةً هُوَ فيهِمُ
بَيَّنتَyou make plain سُؤدُدَهُhis preeminence وَإِنand even if لَمnot تُسأَلِyou are asked
بَيَّنتَ سُؤدُدَهُ وَإِن لَم تُسأَلِ
And when you see an assembly in which he stands,
you make his preeminence plain, though no one asks.
أَلفيI find أَباهُhis father وَجَدَّهُand his grandfather وَأَباهُماand the father of both
أَلفي أَباهُ وَجَدَّهُ وَأَباهُما
مَروانَMarwan فيin الشَرَفِhonor الرَفيعِlofty الأَطوَلِmost towering
مَروانَ في الشَرَفِ الرَفيعِ الأَطوَلِ
I find his father, his grandfather, and their forefather,
Marwan, in lofty, towering honor.
نَطفاءُunclear epithet as written كانواthey were لِلبَرِيَّةِfor mankind عِصمَةًa safeguard
نَطفاءُ كانوا لِلبَرِيَّةِ عِصمَةً
فَأَطاقَso could match أَخِرَهُمthe latest of them فَعالَthe deeds of الأَوَّلِthe first
فَأَطاقَ أَخِرَهُم فَعالَ الأَوَّلِ
[Unclear epithet]—they were a safeguard for mankind,
and their latest could equal the deeds of their first.
أَنتَyou ابنَهُمtheir son بُنِيَتwere built عَلَيكَupon you بُيوتُهُمtheir houses
أَنتَ ابنَهُم بُنِيَت عَلَيكَ بُيوتُهُم
فيin قاهِرٍa conqueror لِذَويover those with الضَغائِنِgrudges مُعتَلِexalted
في قاهِرٍ لِذَوي الضَغائِنِ مُعتَلِ
You are their son; upon you their houses have been built,
in a lofty conqueror of those who harbor rancor.
قَرمٌa lord أَغَرُّradiant تَرىyou see الأَعِزَّةَthe mighty عَندَهُbefore him
قَرمٌ أَغَرُّ تَرى الأَعِزَّةَ عَندَهُ
مُتواضِعينَhumbled عَظيمُهُمtheir greatest كَالأَصبَلِlike the asbal (unclear term)
مُتواضِعينَ عَظيمُهُم كَالأَصبَلِ
A radiant lord: you see the mighty before him
humbled, their greatest like the asbal [unclear term].
بِالحَقِّfor justice قامَhe stood فَماso not يُقَصِّرُfalls short سَمعُهُhis hearing
بِالحَقِّ قامَ فَما يُقَصِّرُ سَمعُهُ
عَنof صَوتِthe voice of مَظلومٍone wronged وَلاnor مُتَذَلِّلِone brought low
عَن صَوتِ مَظلومٍ وَلا مُتَذَلِّلِ
He stands for justice; his hearing never falls short
of a wronged man's voice, nor that of one brought low.
فَجَزَيتُso I repaid أَفضَلَthe best ماwhat عَلِمَتI knew مُضاعَفاًdoubled
فَجَزَيتُ أَفضَلَ ما عَلِمَت مُضاعَفاً
وَتَمَلَّand savor حُلوَthe sweetness of العَيشِlife غَيرَwithout being مُمَلَّلِwearied
وَتَمَلَّ حُلوَ العَيشِ غَيرَ مُمَلَّلِ
So I repaid you twofold with the best I knew;
and savor the sweetness of life, without being wearied.
Translation model: Sol 6.1