طالَlasted long الكَرىsleep وَأَلَمَّand descended الهَمُّcare فَاِكتَنَعاthen clung close
طالَ الكَرى وَأَلَمَّ الهَمُّ فَاِكتَنَعا
وَماand what use تَذَكَّرَremembering مَنone who قَدalready فاتَhas gone وَاِنقَطَعاand vanished
وَما تَذَكَّرَ مَن قَد فاتَ وَاِنقَطَعا
Sleep has lasted long; care descended and clung close.
And what use is remembering one already gone and lost?
كانَwas الشَبابُyouth رِداءًa mantle أَستَكِنُّI shelter بِهِin it
كانَ الشَبابُ رِداءً أَستَكِنُّ بِهِ
وَأَستَظِلُّand I take shade زَماناًfor a time ثُمَّتَthen اِنقَشَعاit vanished
وَأَستَظِلُّ زَماناً ثُمَّتَ اِنقَشَعا
Youth was a mantle in which I sheltered,
And took shade for a time; then it vanished.
وَبُدِّلَand was changed الرَأسُthe head شَيباًto gray hair بَعدَafter داجِيَةٍdark tresses
وَبُدِّلَ الرَأسُ شَيباً بَعدَ داجِيَةٍ
فَينانَةٍluxuriant ماnot تَرىyou see فيat صُدغِهاits temple نَزَعاreceding hair
فَينانَةٍ ما تَرى في صُدغِها نَزَعا
My head was changed to gray after dark tresses,
Luxuriant, with no recession visible at the temple.
فَإِنso if تَكُنthere is مَيعَةٌa youthful surge مِنof باطِلٍfolly ذَهَبَتthat has passed
فَإِن تَكُن مَيعَةٌ مِن باطِلٍ ذَهَبَت
وَأَعقَبَand brought afterward اللَهُGod بَعدَafter الصَبوَةِyouthful passion الوَرَعاpiety
وَأَعقَبَ اللَهُ بَعدَ الصَبوَةِ الوَرَعا
Though a surge of youthful folly has passed,
And God brought piety after youthful passion,
فَقَدfor indeed أَبيتُI spend the night أُناغيwhispering affectionately الخَودَthe tender maiden دانِيَةًclose by
فَقَد أَبيتُ أُناغي الخَودَ دانِيَةً
عَلىupon الوَسائِدِthe cushions مَسروراًdelighted بِهاwith her وَلعاenthralled
عَلى الوَسائِدِ مَسروراً بِها وَلعا
I have spent nights whispering to a tender maiden close beside me,
Upon the cushions, delighted with her, enthralled.
بَرّاقَةُgleaming الثَغرِin teeth يَشفيheals النَفسَthe soul لَذَّتُهاdelight in her
بَرّاقَةُ الثَغرِ يَشفي النَفسَ لَذَّتُها
إِذاwhen مُقَبِّلُهاthe one kissing her فيagainst ثَغرِهاher mouth كَمَعاpressed his lips
إِذا مُقَبِّلُها في ثَغرِها كَمَعا
Her teeth gleamed; delight in her healed the soul,
When the one kissing her pressed his lips to hers.
كَالأُقحُوانِlike daisies بِضاحيon the open ground of الرَوضِthe meadow صَبَّحَهُvisited it at dawn
كَالأُقحُوانِ بِضاحي الرَوضِ صَبَّحَهُ
غَيثٌrain أَرَشَّsprinkled بِتَنضاحٍwith spray وَماbut did not نَقَعاdrench
غَيثٌ أَرَشَّ بِتَنضاحٍ وَما نَقَعا
Like daisies on the meadow's open ground, visited at dawn
By rain that scattered spray but did not drench them.
وَلَيلَةٍand many a night مِنamong لَياليthe nights of الدَهرِtime آنِسَةٍcompanionable
وَلَيلَةٍ مِن لَيالي الدَهرِ آنِسَةٍ
لاقَيتُI encountered فيbeneath ظِلِّهاits shade مَرأىًa sight وَمُستَمَعاand a sound
لاقَيتُ في ظِلِّها مَرأىً وَمُستَمَعا
And many a companionable night among the nights of time—
Beneath its shade I found sights and sounds.
وَنَكبَةٍand many a calamity لَوif رَمىhurled الراميthe archer بِهاwith it حَجَراa stone
وَنَكبَةٍ لَو رَمى الرامي بِها حَجَرا
أَصَمَّunyielding مِنof جَندَلِboulders of الصَوّانِflint لَاِنصَدَعاit would have split
أَصَمَّ مِن جَندَلِ الصَوّانِ لَاِنصَدَعا
And many a calamity that, had an archer hurled it at a stone,
Hard, of solid flint, would have split it apart—
أَتَتit came عَلَيَّupon me فَلَمyet I did not أَترُكleave لَهاfor it سَلَبيmy spoils
أَتَت عَلَيَّ فَلَم أَترُك لَها سَلَبي
وَماand I did not اِستَنَحتُlament لَهاover it شَكوىin complaint وَلاnor جَزَعاin panic
وَما اِستَنَحتُ لَها شَكوى وَلا جَزَعا
Came upon me, yet I gave it nothing to plunder,
Nor did I lament it with complaint or panic.
وَالمَرءُand a person لَيسَdoes not وَإِنeven if طالَتlasted long سَلامَتُهُhis safety
وَالمَرءُ لَيسَ وَإِن طالَت سَلامَتُهُ
يَدريknow الَّذيwhat هُوَhe لاقٍwill meet قَبلَbefore أَنit يَقَعاhappens
يَدري الَّذي هُوَ لاقٍ قَبلَ أَن يَقَعا
A man does not, however long he remains unharmed,
Know what he will meet before it occurs.
ماnot يُقلِعُceases المَرءُa person يَستَقريsearching out مَضاجِعَهُhis resting places
ما يُقلِعُ المَرءُ يَستَقري مَضاجِعَهُ
حَتّىuntil يُقيمَhe settles بِأَقصاهُنَّin the farthest of them مُضطَجَعاlying down
حَتّى يُقيمَ بِأَقصاهُنَّ مُضطَجَعا
A man never ceases searching out his resting places
Until he lies settled in the farthest of them.
وَالأَرضُand the earth غائِلَةٌtreacherous لِلناسِto people مُهلِكَةٌdestructive
وَالأَرضُ غائِلَةٌ لِلناسِ مُهلِكَةٌ
فَماso not تَرىyou see أَحَداًanyone مِنamong أَهلِهاits inhabitants اِمتَنَعاescape
فَما تَرى أَحَداً مِن أَهلِها اِمتَنَعا
The earth ambushes people and destroys them;
You see none of its inhabitants escape.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِستَرَطَتit gulped down جيلاًa generation بِأَجمَعِهِمall of them
حَتّى إِذا اِستَرَطَت جيلاً بِأَجمَعِهِم
لاقىencountered الَّذيthe one بَعدَهُمafter them مِنamong أَهلِهاits inhabitants جَشَعاravenous hunger
لاقى الَّذي بَعدَهُم مِن أَهلِها جَشَعا
Until, when it swallows a whole generation,
The next among its inhabitants meets its ravenous hunger.
وَلَيسَand not يَأَكُلُeats مِمّاfrom what أَنبَتَتit grew أَحَدٌanyone
وَلَيسَ يَأَكُلُ مِمّا أَنبَتَت أَحَدٌ
وَلَوeven if تَقَلَّبَhe roamed فيthrough الآفاقِthe horizons وَاِنتَجَعاand sought pasture
وَلَو تَقَلَّبَ في الآفاقِ وَاِنتَجَعا
No one eats from what it grows,
Even if he roams the horizons in search of pasture,
أَلاexcept that تَكونَit becomes لَهُto him غولاًa ghoul فَتُهلِكُهُand destroys him
أَلا تَكونَ لَهُ غولاً فَتُهلِكُهُ
كَأَنَّماas though كانَhe were زاداًprovisions غُصَّchoked on فَاِبتُلِعاthen swallowed
كَأَنَّما كانَ زاداً غُصَّ فَاِبتُلِعا
Without its becoming a ghoul to him and destroying him,
As though he were food that stuck in the throat, then was swallowed.
وَماand not يَزيدُوَنَهاthey increase it عَرضاًin breadth وَإِنeven if أَكَلَتit ate
وَما يَزيدُوَنَها عَرضاً وَإِن أَكَلَت
مِنهُمof them كَثيراًmany وَلاnor رَيّاًquenching of thirst وَلاnor شَبِعاsatiety
مِنهُم كَثيراً وَلا رَيّاً وَلا شَبِعا
They add nothing to its breadth, though it devours
Many of them, nor do they quench its thirst or hunger.
وَماand not تَرىyou see مَيِّتاًa dead person يَحياlive again فَتَسأَلُهُso you question him
وَما تَرى مَيِّتاً يَحيا فَتَسأَلُهُ
وَلاnor الشَبابُyouth إِلىto ذيone possessing شيبَةٍgray hair رَجَعاreturned
وَلا الشَبابُ إِلى ذي شيبَةٍ رَجَعا
You never see a dead man live again to question him,
Nor has youth returned to a gray-haired man.
وَماand not يُؤَخِّرُdelays مَوتاًdeath عاجِلاًimminent هَرَبٌflight
وَما يُؤَخِّرُ مَوتاً عاجِلاً هَرَبٌ
وَلاnor تَعَرَّضَfacing بَأسٌbattle زادَهُmade it سَرَعاswifter
وَلا تَعَرَّضَ بَأسٌ زادَهُ سَرَعا
Flight does not delay an imminent death,
Nor does facing battle make it come more swiftly.
وَماand not الحَياةُlife لِإِنسِيٍّfor a human بِدائِمَةٍeverlasting
وَما الحَياةُ لِإِنسِيٍّ بِدائِمَةٍ
وَلَوeven if تَزَوَّدَhe took provisions مِنfrom لِذّاتِهاits delights مُتَعاpleasures
وَلَو تَزَوَّدَ مِن لِذّاتِها مُتَعا
Life endures forever for no human,
Even if he stores up pleasures from its delights.
لَوif أَخطَأَmissed المَوتُdeath شَيئاًanything أَوor تَخَطَّأَهُpassed it by
لَو أَخطَأَ المَوتُ شَيئاً أَو تَخَطَّأَهُ
لَأَخطَأَit would have missed الأَعصَمُthe white-footed المُستَوعِلُmountain-climbing الصَدَعاyoung ibex
لَأَخطَأَ الأَعصَمُ المُستَوعِلُ الصَدَعا
If death ever missed a thing or passed it by,
It would have missed the white-footed, mountain-climbing young ibex,
فيon مُشمَخِرٍّa towering peak تَهابُfear الطَيرُthe birds ذَروَتَهُits summit
في مُشمَخِرٍّ تَهابُ الطَيرُ ذَروَتَهُ
يَعلوrises above الشَواهِقَthe lofty heights مِناbeyond us الشَمُّthe high crags وَالقَلَعاand the rocky peaks
يَعلو الشَواهِقَ مِنا الشَمُّ وَالقَلَعا
On a towering peak whose summit birds fear,
Rising above the lofty heights, beyond us, over high crags and rocky peaks.
وَقَدand indeed تَشَبَّعُsatisfies هَمّيmy concern ذاتَpossessing مُعجِمَةٍproven endurance
وَقَد تَشَبَّعُ هَمّي ذاتَ مُعجِمَةٍ
بُوَيزِلٌa newly mature camel نابُهاher canine لَمnot يَعدُwent beyond أَنhaving طَلَعاemerged
بُوَيزِلٌ نابُها لَم يَعدُ أَن طَلَعا
And a she-camel of proven endurance may soothe my care,
Newly mature, her canine having only just emerged.
تَأَبَّدَتshe grew wild حائِلاًunmated فيamong الشَولِthe dry-uddered camels وَاِطَّرَدَتand ranged away
تَأَبَّدَت حائِلاً في الشَولِ وَاِطَّرَدَت
مِنَfrom الطَوائِفِthe herds فيin أَلوانِهاher colors لُمَعاbright patches
مِنَ الطَوائِفِ في أَلوانِها لُمَعا
She ranged wild, unmated among the dry-uddered camels, and wandered
Away from the herds, bright patches marking her coat.
يَسُنُّهاtends her آبِلٌa skilled camel-herder إِمّاeither يُجَزِّئُهاkeeps her without water
يَسُنُّها آبِلٌ إِمّا يُجَزِّئُها
جزءاًa spell without water طَويلاًlong وَإِمّاor else تَرتَعيshe grazes كَرَعاin watered hollows
جزءاً طَويلاً وَإِمّا تَرتَعي كَرَعا
A skilled camel-herder tends her, either keeping her without water
For a long spell, or letting her graze in watered hollows,
حَتّىuntil اِستَقَلَّrose عَلَيهاupon her تامِكٌa lofty hump سَنِمٌfull
حَتّى اِستَقَلَّ عَلَيها تامِكٌ سَنِمٌ
وَطالَماand often أَنسَلَتshe shed عَنfrom جِلدِهاher skin قَزَعاtufts
وَطالَما أَنسَلَت عَن جِلدِها قَزَعا
Until a tall, full hump rises upon her;
And often she has shed tufts from her skin.
بَضّاخَةٌspraying copiously بِنَدىwith sweat الذِفرىthe hollow behind the ear إِذاwhen زُجِرَتshe was urged on
بَضّاخَةٌ بِنَدى الذِفرى إِذا زُجِرَت
عاطَتrose above خُزامَتُهاher nose-ring الخَيشومَthe muzzle وَاِختَضَعاand it bent low
عاطَت خُزامَتُها الخَيشومَ وَاِختَضَعا
She sprays sweat from behind her ears; when driven,
Her nose-ring rises above her muzzle, and it bends low.
مُبَطَّناًslender-bellied كَغِلافِlike the case of القَوسِa bow يُنهِلُهاgiving her a first drink
مُبَطَّناً كَغِلافِ القَوسِ يُنهِلُها
مِنfrom سورَةِthe surge of الماءِwater فيin حَوضِa basin of الحَياrain جُزَعاgulps
مِن سورَةِ الماءِ في حَوضِ الحَيا جُزَعا
Slender as a bow-case, giving her her first drink
In gulps from surging water in a rain-filled basin.
كَأَنَّas though ماwhat is بَينَbetween دَفَّيهاher two flanks وَكَلكَلِهاand her breast
كَأَنَّ ما بَينَ دَفَّيها وَكَلكَلِها
وَالمرِفَقَينِand the two elbows إِذاwhen أَبطاهُماtheir two armpits دَمَعاboth wept
وَالمرِفَقَينِ إِذا أَبطاهُما دَمَعا
As though the space between her flanks and breast
And her elbows, when their two armpits weep,
سَهبانُtwo plains بَينَbetween رَوابٍhills بَينَهاbetween them فرَجٌgaps
سَهبانُ بَينَ رَوابٍ بَينَها فرَجٌ
تَفَرَّقاthe two parted عِنaround حَزيزٍa rocky ridge ثُمَّتَthen اِجتَمَعاthe two joined
تَفَرَّقا عِن حَزيزٍ ثُمَّتَ اِجتَمَعا
Were two plains between hills, with gaps between them,
Parting around a rocky ridge, then joining again.
كَأَنَّas though بِالأَشرَفِat the height الأَقصىfarthest لَهاshe has وَطَراًa purpose
كَأَنَّ بِالأَشرَفِ الأَقصى لَها وَطَراً
إِذاwhen النَهارُdaylight بِأَسبابِupon the rays of الضُحىforenoon مَتَعاrose high
إِذا النَهارُ بِأَسبابِ الضُحى مَتَعا
As though she had a purpose at the farthest height,
When daylight rises high upon the rays of forenoon.
صَلّىmay send blessings الَّذيHe to whom الصَلواتُthe prayers الطَيِّباتِpure لَهُbelong
صَلّى الَّذي الصَلواتُ الطَيِّباتِ لَهُ
وَالمُسلِمونَand the Muslims إِذاwhen أَجمَعواthey assembled الجُمَعاfor Friday prayers
وَالمُسلِمونَ إِذا أَجمَعوا الجُمَعا
May He to whom the pure prayers belong send blessings,
And the Muslims, when they gather for Friday prayers,
عَلىupon الَّذيthe one who يَسبِقُoutstrips الأَقوامَthe peoples ضاحِيَةًplainly
عَلى الَّذي يَسبِقُ الأَقوامَ ضاحِيَةً
بِالأَجرِin reward وَالحَمدِand praise حَتّىuntil صاحَبَاهboth accompanied him مَعاtogether
بِالأَجرِ وَالحَمدِ حَتّى صاحَبَاه مَعا
Upon him who plainly outstrips the peoples
In reward and praise, until both accompany him together.
هُوَhe الَّذيis the one جَمَعَunited الرَحمَنُthe Merciful أُمَّتَهُhis community
هُوَ الَّذي جَمَعَ الرَحمَنُ أُمَّتَهُ
عَلىthrough يَدَيهِhis two hands وَكانواand they were قَبلَهُbefore him شِيَعاfactions
عَلى يَدَيهِ وَكانوا قَبلَهُ شِيَعا
He is the one whose community the Merciful united
Through his hands; before him they were factions.
عُذناwe sought refuge بِذيwith the Possessor of العَرشِthe Throne أَنlest نَحياwe live وَنَفقِدَهُand lose him
عُذنا بِذي العَرشِ أَن نَحيا وَنَفقِدَهُ
أَوor أَنthat نَكونَwe become لِراعٍto a shepherd بَعدَهُafter him تَبَعاfollowers
أَو أَن نَكونَ لِراعٍ بَعدَهُ تَبَعا
We sought refuge with the Lord of the Throne from living on and losing him,
Or becoming followers of a shepherd after him.
كانَتthere were رُؤوسٌheads مِنَamong الأَعداءِthe enemies تَطحَنُهاyou ground them down
كانَت رُؤوسٌ مِنَ الأَعداءِ تَطحَنُها
فَكُلُّso every كَيدٍplot بِإِذنِby the permission of اللَهِGod قَدindeed دفعاwas repelled
فَكُلُّ كَيدٍ بِإِذنِ اللَهِ قَد دفعا
There were heads among the enemies that you ground down,
So every plot was repelled by God's leave.
ماnot فَتىceased السَبيُthe captives وَالأَسلابُand the spoils تَسحَبُهُdragging it
ما فَتى السَبيُ وَالأَسلابُ تَسحَبُهُ
إِلَيهِto him أَظفَارُهُhis claws حَتّىuntil أَتَوهُthey came to him مَعاtogether
إِلَيهِ أَظفَارُهُ حَتّى أَتَوهُ مَعا
Captives and spoils kept being dragged
To him by his claws, until they came to him together.
إِنَّindeed الوَليدَal-Walid أَمرَCommander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful لَهُhas
إِنَّ الوَليدَ أَمرَ المُؤمِنينَ لَهُ
خَلقٌa character أَعانَaided عَلَيهِin it اللَهُGod فَاِرتَفَعاand so he rose
خَلقٌ أَعانَ عَلَيهِ اللَهُ فَاِرتَفَعا
Indeed, al-Walid, Commander of the Faithful, possesses
A character God has aided, and so he rose high.
لاnot يَمنَعُcan withhold الناسَthe people ماwhat أَعطىHe gave الَّذينَthose who هُمُare
لا يَمنَعُ الناسَ ما أَعطى الَّذينَ هُمُ
لَهُHis عِبادٌservants وَلاnor يُعطَونَare they given ماwhat مَنَعاHe withheld
لَهُ عِبادٌ وَلا يُعطَونَ ما مَنَعا
People cannot withhold what He gave—those who are
His servants—nor are they given what He withheld.
نَماhe rose إِلىto شَرَفٍhonor ماno فَوقَهُabove it شَرَفٌhonor
نَما إِلى شَرَفٍ ما فَوقَهُ شَرَفٌ
فَكُلُّand every رابِيَةٍheight مِنهُof it قَدِindeed اِطَّلَعاhe climbed
فَكُلُّ رابِيَةٍ مِنهُ قَدِ اِطَّلَعا
He rose to an honor above which there is no honor;
He has climbed every height of it.
إِنَّindeed المُلوكَthe kings وَماand not بيin me أَنto أُعيبَهُمُdisparage them
إِنَّ المُلوكَ وَما بي أَن أُعيبَهُمُ
لَنnever will يَجمَعوthey gather مِنof عواليthe pinnacles of الأَمرَpower ماwhat جَمَعاhe gathered
لَن يَجمَعو مِن عوالي الأَمرَ ما جَمَعا
Indeed, kings—and I have no wish to disparage them—
Will never gather the heights of power that he has gathered.
لاno مقدَمٌadvance كانَwas إِلّاexcept دونَbelow مقدَمِهِhis advance
لا مقدَمٌ كانَ إِلّا دونَ مقدَمِهِ
وَلاnor المَنافِعُthe benefits إِلّاexcept دونَbelow ماwhat نَفَعاhe bestowed as benefit
وَلا المَنافِعُ إِلّا دونَ ما نَفَعا
No advance has ever been other than below his advance,
Nor any benefits other than below the good he has done.
فَلاso no جَوادٌgenerous man مِنَamong الأَقوامِthe peoples يَعدِلُهُequals him
فَلا جَوادٌ مِنَ الأَقوامِ يَعدِلُهُ
فيin الوَضعِgiving وَهوَand he أَحَقُّis worthiest الناسِof people أَنto يَسَعاgive abundantly
في الوَضعِ وَهوَ أَحَقُّ الناسِ أَن يَسَعا
No generous man among the peoples equals him
In giving; he is the worthiest of men to give abundantly.
وَلاnor أَرَبَّmore attentive لِنَعمىto a favor حينَwhen ينعِمُهاhe bestows it
وَلا أَرَبَّ لِنَعمى حينَ ينعِمُها
حَتّىuntil يُتَمِّمَhe completes أَوor يُعطيhe grants بِهاthrough it الفَنَعاprosperity
حَتّى يُتَمِّمَ أَو يُعطي بِها الفَنَعا
None tends a favor more faithfully when he bestows it,
Until he completes it or bestows prosperity through it.
وَلاnor أَحَقَّworthier بِعَدلٍin justice فيamong رَعِيَّتِهِhis subjects
وَلا أَحَقَّ بِعَدلٍ في رَعِيَّتِهِ
فَماso not تَمايَلَhe wavered فيin حُكمٍjudgment وَلاnor ضَلَعاleaned unfairly
فَما تَمايَلَ في حُكمٍ وَلا ضَلَعا
Nor is anyone more fit to deal justly with his subjects;
He has neither wavered in judgment nor leaned to one side.
فَأَظهَرَso made manifest اللَهُGod نَصرَthe victory of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims بِهِthrough him
فَأَظهَرَ اللَهُ نَصرَ المُسلِمينَ بِهِ
وَكُلُّand every فاحِشَةٍabomination عَنaway from دينِهِمtheir faith دَفَعاhe drove away
وَكُلُّ فاحِشَةٍ عَن دينِهِم دَفَعا
God manifested the Muslims' victory through him,
And turned every abomination away from their faith.
قَدindeed سادَhe led وَهوَwhile he was فَتىًa youth حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen بَلَغَتhe reached
قَد سادَ وَهوَ فَتىً حَتّى إِذا بَلَغَت
أَشُدَّهُhis full strength وَغَلاand rose high فيin الأَمرِauthority وَاِجتَمَعاand matured fully
أَشُدَّهُ وَغَلا في الأَمرِ وَاِجتَمَعا
He led while still a youth, until, when he attained
His full strength, he rose high in authority and grew complete,
وَعَلَّقَand tied اللَهُGod أَسبابَthe cords of الأُمورِaffairs بِهِto him
وَعَلَّقَ اللَهُ أَسبابَ الأُمورِ بِهِ
وَلَمand no يُطِقcould bear حامِلٌbearer فَوقَmore than الَّذيwhat اِضطَلَعاhe shouldered
وَلَم يُطِق حامِلٌ فَوقَ الَّذي اِضطَلَعا
And God tied the cords of affairs to him,
No bearer could carry more than what he shouldered.
فَماso not شَكاhe complained of ظَهرَهُhis back مِنfrom حَملِbearing مَضلِعِهِhis crushing burden
فَما شَكا ظَهرَهُ مِن حَملِ مَضلِعِهِ
وَلاnor تَكَعكَعَhe shrank back مِنfrom وَقرٍa heavy load وَلاnor ظَلَعاhe limped
وَلا تَكَعكَعَ مِن وَقرٍ وَلا ظَلَعا
He never complained of his back beneath its crushing load,
Nor shrank beneath a burden, nor limped.
لاnot يَستَطيعُcan جوادٌa generous man أنto يُجارِيَهُkeep pace with him
لا يَستَطيعُ جوادٌ أن يُجارِيَهُ
فَمَنso whoever تَكَلَّفَundertook أَمراًa task بَعدَهُafter him نَزَعاwithdrew
فَمَن تَكَلَّفَ أَمراً بَعدَهُ نَزَعا
No generous man can keep pace with him;
Whoever undertakes a task after him draws back.
أُثنيI praise عَلَيهِhim فَلاbut I do not أُحصيenumerate فَواضِلَهُhis bounties
أُثني عَلَيهِ فَلا أُحصي فَواضِلَهُ
وَتَنتَهيand comes to an end مِدحَتيmy praise بَعدَafter الَّذيwhat صَنَعاhe did
وَتَنتَهي مِدحَتي بَعدَ الَّذي صَنَعا
I praise him, but cannot count his bounties,
And my praise ends in the wake of what he has done.
Translation model: Sol 6.1