وَAndلِtoآخَرَanotherمِنْهُمْ:of them:
And to another of them:
مَاWhatرَأَيْتُhave I seenمِثْلَlikeطَيِّبِthe goodness ofقَوْلِكَyour speechأَمَرَّهُwhile its bitterness isسُوءُthe evil ofفِعْلِكَ،your deed,
What have I seen like the goodness of your speech whose bitterness is the evil of your deed,
وَandلَاneitherمِثْلَlikeبَسْطِthe outstretching ofوَجْهِكَyour faceخَالَفَهُwhich is contradicted byضِيقُthe tightness ofتَنْكِيدِكَ،your vexation,
nor like the openness of your face which is contradicted by the tightness of your vexation,
وَandلَاneitherمِثْلَlikeقُرْبِthe closeness ofمَوَاعِيدِكَyour promisesبَاعَدَهَاwhile made distant byفَرْطُexcessiveمَطْلِكَ،your procrastination,
nor like the closeness of your promises made distant by excessive procrastination,
وَandلَاneitherمِثْلَlikeأُنْسِthe friendliness ofبَدِيهَتِكَyour initial encounterأَوْحَشَmade desolateمِنْهُmore than itقَبِيحُthe ugliness ofعَوَاقِبِكَ،your consequences,
nor like the friendliness of your initial encounter made more desolate by the ugliness of your later consequences,
حَتَّىuntilكَأَنَّit is as ifالدَّهْرَtimeأَوْدَعَكَentrusted you withلَطِيفَsubtleالْحِيلَةِcunningبِinالْمَكْرِdeceivingبِthoseأَهْلِpossessingالْخُلَّةِ،friendship,
until it is as if time has entrusted you with subtle cunning in deceiving friends,
وَandكَأَنَّهُas if itزَيَّنَكَadorned youفِيهِمْamong themبِwithالْخَدِيعَةِdeceptionلِtoتُدْرِكَreachمِنْهُمْfrom themفُرْصَةَthe opportunity ofالْهَلَكَةِ.destruction.
and as if it adorned you among them with deception to attain from them the opportunity of destruction.
وَAndقَدْindeedقِيلَ:it has been said:وَعْدُThe promise ofالْكَرِيمِthe noble personنَقْدٌis cash paymentوَandتَعْجِيلٌ،speeding up,
And it has been said: The promise of the noble person is immediate and swift, and the promise of the ignoble is delayed and postponed.
وَandوَعْدُthe promise ofاللَّئِيمِthe base personمَطْلٌis procrastinationوَandتَأْجِيلٌ.postponement.
and the promise of the base person is procrastination and postponement.
وَAndقَالَsaidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:وَعَدْتَنَاYou promised usمَوَاعِيدَthe promises ofعُرْقُوبَ،Urqub,
And some of them said: You promised us the promises of Urqub, and delayed us with the procrastination of the dog's slumber,
وَandمَطَلْتَنَاyou procrastinated with usمَطْلَthe procrastination ofنُعَاسِthe slumber ofالْكَلْبِ،the dog,
and delayed us with the procrastination of the dog's slumber,
وَandغَرَرْتَنَاyou deceived us withغُرُورَthe delusion ofالسَّرَابِ،the mirage,
and deceived us with the delusion of the mirage,
وَandمَنَّيْتَنَاyou made us hope withأَمَانِيَّthe wishes ofالْكُمُّونِ.cumin.
and made us hope with the wishes of cumin.
وَAndلِtoبَعْضِهِمْ:some of them:أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterward,
And to some of them: Now then, do not leave me hanging onto your promise,
فَلَاthen do notتَدَعْنِيleave meمُتَعَلِّقاًhangingبِontoوَعْدِكَyour promise
then do not leave me hanging onto your promise,
فَforالْعُذْرُthe excuseالْجَمِيلُbeautifulأَحْسَنُis betterمِنْthanالْمَطْلِprocrastinationالطَّوِيلِ،long.
for a beautiful excuse is better than long procrastination.
فَSoإِنْifكُنْتَyou areتُرِيدُintendingالْإِنْعَامَbestowing favorفَthenأَنْجِحْfulfill it successfully
So if you intend to bestow a favor, then fulfill it,
وَandإِنْifتَعَذَّرَتِis made impossibleالْحَاجَةُthe needفَthenأَوْضِحْmake it clear
and if the need is impossible, then make it clear
وَandأَعْلِمْنِيlet me knowذَاكَthatلِtoأَصْرِفَredirectوَجْهَthe face ofالطَّلَبِrequestإِلَىtowardsغَيْرِكَ.someone other than you.
and let me know that so I may redirect my request to someone other than you.
وَAndذَكَرُواthey mentionedأَنَّthatفَتًىa young manمِنْfromمُرَادٍMuradكَانَused toيَخْتَلِفُfrequentإِلَىAmrعَمْرِوibnبْنِal-Aasالْعَاصِsoفَقَالَhe saidلَهُto himذَاتَoneيَوْمٍ:day:
And they mentioned that a young man from Murad used to frequent Amr ibn al-Aas, so he said to him one day:
أَDoلَكَyou haveامْرَأَةٌ؟a wife?قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
Do you have a wife? He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَWillفَتَتَزَوَّجُyou marryوَwhileعَلَيَّupon me isالْمَهْرُ؟the dowry?
He said: Will you marry while the dowry is upon me?
فَSoرَجَعَhe returnedإِلَىtoأُمِّهِhis motherفَandأَخْبَرَهَا،informed her,
So he returned to his mother and informed her,
فَقَالَتْ:so she said:
so she said:
إِذَاWhenحَدَّثَتْكَwhispers to youالنَّفْسُthe soulأَنَّكَthat you areقَادِرٌcapable
When your soul whispers that you are capable of what the hands of men hold, then deny it.
عَلَىofمَاwhatحَوَتْcontainedأَيْدِيhands ofالرِّجَالِmenفَthenكَذِّبْdeny it
of what the hands of men hold, then deny it.
فَSoتَزَوَّجَhe marriedثُمَّthenأَتَىcame toعَمْرَوAmrبْنَibnالْعَاصِ،al-Aas,
So he married, then came to Amr ibn al-Aas,
فَandاعْتَلَّhe made excusesعَلَيْهِto himوَandلَمْdid notيُنْجِزْfulfillلَهُfor himوَعْدَهُ،his promise,
and he made excuses to him and did not fulfill his promise to him,
فَsoشَكَاhe complainedذَلِكَthatإِلَىtoأُمِّهِ،his mother,
so he complained of that to his mother,
فَقَالَتْ:so she said:
so she said:
لَاDo notتَغْضَبَنَّbecome angryعَلَىatامْرِئٍa manفِيregardingمَالِهِhis wealth
Do not become angry at a man regarding his wealth, and over the noble wealth of your own soul, become angry.
وَandعَلَىoverكَرَائِمِnobleمَالِwealth ofنَفْسِكَyour soulفَthenاغْضَبْbecome angry
and over the noble wealth of your own soul, become angry.
وَAndلِforبَعْضِsomeالشُّعَرَاءِpoetsفِيregardingهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَى:meaning:
And for some poets regarding this meaning:
أَرُوحُI go out in the eveningوَandأَغْدُوset out in the morningنَحْوَكُمْtowards youفِيforحَوَائِجِيmy needs
I go out and set out toward you for my needs, and I become from them in the morning like the one who enters the evening.
فَandأُصْبِحُI becomeمِنْهَاfrom themغُدْوَةًin the morningكَlikeالَّذِيthe one whoأُمْسِيenters the evening
and I become from them in the morning like the one who enters the evening.
وَAndقَدْindeedكُنْتُI used toأَرْضَىbe pleasedلِwithالصَّدِيقِthe friendشَفَاعَتِيmy intercession
And I used to be pleased with my intercession for a friend, but now I have become pleased to be interceded for regarding myself.
فَsoقَدْindeedصِرْتُI have becomeأَرْضَىpleasedأَنْthatأُشَفَّعَI am interceded forفِيinنَفْسِيmyself
but now I have become pleased to be interceded for regarding myself.
وَAndلِforأَبِيAbuنُوَّاسٍ:Nuwas:
And for Abu Nuwas:
وَعَدْتَنِيYou promised meوَعْدَكَyour promiseحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhen
You promised me your promise until when you made me hopeful of the treasure of Qarun,
أَطْمَعْتَنِيyou made me hopefulفِيofكَنْزِtreasure ofقَارُونَQarun
you made me hopeful of the treasure of Qarun,
جِئْتَyou cameمِنَfromاللَّيْلِthe nightبِwithغُسَالَةٍdishwater
you came at night with dishwater to wash what you said with soap.
تَغْسِلُto washمَاwhatقُلْتَyou saidبِwithصَابُونٍsoap
to wash what you said with soap.
وَAndأَنْشَدَhe recitedلِforأَبِيAbuتَمَّامٍ:Tammam:
And he recited for Abu Tammam:
يَحْتَاجُNeedsمَنْthe one whoيَرْتَجِيhopes forنَوَالَكُمْyour bestowal
The one who hopes for your bestowal needs three things without falsehood:
إِلَىtoثَلَاثٍthreeبِwithoutغَيْرِother thanتَكْذِيبٍfalsification
three things without falsehood:
فَSoكَنْزُthe treasure ofقَارُونَQarunأَنْthatيَكُونَthere beلَهُfor him
the treasure of Qarun for him to have, the age of Noah, and the patience of Job.
وَandعُمْرُthe age ofنُوحٍNoahوَandصَبْرُthe patience ofأَيُّوبَJob
and the age of Noah, and the patience of Job.
وَAndلِtoآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
إِنِّيIndeed Iلَtrulyأَعْجَبُam amazedمِنْatقَوْلٍspeechغَرَرْتَyou deceivedبِهِwith it
Indeed I am amazed at speech you deceived with, sweet, pleasing to the ear and the eye,
حُلْوٍsweetيَلَذُّis delightfulإِلَيْهِtoالسَّمْعُthe hearingوَandالْبَصَرُthe sight
sweet, pleasing to the ear and the eye,
لَوْIfتَسْمَعُheardالْعُصْمُmountain ibexesفِيinصُمِّhardالْجِبَالِmountainsبِهِit
If the ibexes in the hard mountains heard it, the firm ibexes would keep sliding down.
ظَلَّتْthey would keepمِنَfromالرَّاسِيَاتِthe firmالْعُصْمُibexesتَنْحَدِرُsliding down
the firm ibexes would keep sliding down.
كَLikeالْخَمْرِwineوَandالشَّهْدِhoneyيَجْرِيflowingفَوْقَoverظَاهِرِهِits surface
Like wine and honey flowing over its surface, while its inner part has neither taste nor substance.
وَandمَاwhileلِtoبَاطِنِهِits inner partطَعْمٌtasteوَلَاnorحِبْرُsubstance
while its inner part has neither taste nor substance.
وَAndكَlikeالسَّرَابِthe mirageشَبِيهاًresemblingبِtoالْغَدِيرِthe poolوَandإِنْif
And like the mirage resembling a pool, yet if you seek the mirage, there is neither spring nor trace.
تَبْغِyou seekالسَّرَابَthe mirageفَthenلَاnoعَيْنَspringوَلَاnorأَثَرَtrace
yet if you seek the mirage, there is neither spring nor trace.
وَAndلَاneitherيُنْبِتُdoes growالْعُشْبَherbageعَنْfromبَرْقٍlightningوَandرَاعِدَةٍ،thunder,
And herbage does not grow from lightning and thunder, a glowing one with neither torrent nor rain.
غَرَّاءَglowingly brightلَيْسَthere isبِهَاin itسَيْلٌtorrentوَلَاnorمَطَرٌrain
a glowing one with neither torrent nor rain.
وَAndمِمَّاfrom whatقِيلَwas saidمِنَofالشِّعْرِpoetryفِيregardingالْبُخْلِstinginessبِwithالطَّعَامِfoodلِbyبَعْضِهِمْ:some of them:
And from what was said in poetry regarding stinginess with food by some of them:
رَأَيْتُI sawأَبَاAbuعُثْمَانَUthmanيَبْذُلُsacrificingعِرْضَهُhis honor
I saw Abu Uthman sacrificing his honor, while the bread of Abu Uthman is in the safest of guards.
وَandخُبْزُthe bread ofأَبِيAbuعُثْمَانَUthmanفِيis inأَكْرَمِthe noblestالْحِرْزِof safes
while the bread of Abu Uthman is in the safest of guards.
يَحِنُّHe yearnsإِلَىtowardsجَارَاتِهِhis neighborsبَعْدَafterشِبْعِهِhis fullness
He yearns for his neighbors after being full, while his neighbors are hungry, yearning for bread.
وَandجَارَاتُهُhis neighborsغَرْثَىare hungryتَحُنُّyearningإِلَىtowardsالْخُبْزِthe bread
while his neighbors are hungry, yearning for bread.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
مَاIكُنْتُused toأَحْسَبُthinkأَنَّthatالْخُبْزَbreadفَاكِهَةٌis a delicacy
I never used to think bread was a delicacy until I stayed with Awf ibn Khanzir,
حَتَّىuntilنَزَلْتُI alightedعَلَىwithعَوْفِAwfبْنِibnخِنْزِيرٍKhanzir,
until I stayed with Awf ibn Khanzir,
الْحَابِسِthe one who detainsالرَّوْثَdungفِيinأَعْجَاجِintestines ofبَغْلَتِهِhis mule
who retains dung in the intestines of his mule out of stinginess over the grains from the gleanings of sparrows.
بُخْلاًout of stinginessعَلَىoverالْحَبِّthe grainمِنْfromلَقْطِgleaning ofالْعَصَافِيرِsparrows
out of stinginess over the grains from the gleanings of sparrows.
وَAndلِforغَيْرِهِ:someone else:
And for someone else:
نَوَالُكَYour bestowalدُونَهُis short ofخَرْطُstrippingالْقَتَادِthe Qatad thorns
Your bestowal is as hard as stripping Qatad thorns, and your kindness is like the Pleiades in distance.
وَandخَيْرُكَyour goodnessكَis likeالثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiadesفِيinالْبُعَادِdistance
and your kindness is like the Pleiades in distance.
تَرَىYou considerالْإِصْلَاحَreformصَوْمَكَyour fastingلَاnotلِforنُسُكٍdevotion
You consider your fasting to be reform, not for devotion, but as breaking the loaf out of corruption.
وَandكَسْراًbreakingلِofرَغِيفِthe loafمِنَfromالْفَسَادِcorruption
but as breaking the loaf out of corruption.
أَرَىI seeعُمْرَthe age ofالرَّغِيفِthe loafيَطُولُgrowing longجِدّاًvery much
I see the age of the loaf growing very long with you, as if it were from the people of Aad.
لَدَيْكَwith youكَas ifأَنَّهُit isمِنْfromقَوْمِthe people ofعَادٍAad
as if it were from the people of Aad.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
اللُّؤْمُBasenessمِنْكَfrom youعَلَىregardingالطَّعَامِfoodطِبَاعٌis a nature
Baseness from you regarding food is a nature, so the dependents of your house are hungry as long as you live.
فَsoعِيَالُdependents ofبَيْتِكَyour houseمَاas long asحَيِيتَyou liveجِيَاعٌare hungry
so the dependents of your house are hungry as long as you live.
وَAndإِذَاifيَمُرُّpassesبِbyبَابِdoor ofدَارِكَyour houseسَائِلٌa beggar
And if a beggar passes by your door, barking dogs and beasts snarl at him.
هَرَّتْsnarlعَلَيْهِat himنَوَابِحُbarking onesوَandسِبَاعٌbeasts
barking dogs and beasts snarl at him.
وَAndعَلَىuponرَغِيفِكَyour loafحَيَّةٌis a snakeمَسْمُومَةٌvenomous
And upon your loaf is a venomous snake, and upon your dining mat is a scorpion and a viper.
وَandعَلَىuponخِوَانِكَyour dining matعَقْرَبٌis a scorpionوَandشُجَاعٌa viper
and upon your dining mat is a scorpion and a viper.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
يَاOتَارِكَone who leavesالْبَيْتَthe houseعَلَىtoالضَّيْفِthe guest
O you who leave the house to the guest and flee from him out of fear,
وَandهَارِباًfleeingمِنْهُfrom himمِنَout ofالْخَوْفِfear
and flee from him out of fear,
ضَيْفُكَyour guestقَدْhasجَاءَcomeبِwithزَادٍprovisionsلَهُof his own
your guest has come with provisions of his own, so return and be a guest to the guest.
فَsoارْجِعْreturnفَandكُنْbeضَيْفاًa guestعَلَىtoالضَّيْفِthe guest
so return and be a guest to the guest.
إِذَاWhenاشْتَهَىdesiredالضَّيْفُthe guestطَبِيخَcooked food ofالشِّتَاwinter
When the guest desired winter stew, he brought it to him with desire in summer.
أَتَاهُhe brought it to himبِwithالشَّهْوَةِdesireفِيinالصَّيْفِsummer
he brought it to him with desire in summer.
وَAndإِنْifدَنَاdrew nearالْمِسْكِينُthe poor personمِنْtoبَابِهِhis door
And if the poor person drew near to his door, he set upon the poor person with a sword.
شَدَّhe set uponعَلَىhimالْمِسْكِينِthe poor personبِwithالسَّيْفِthe sword
he set upon the poor person with a sword.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
يَكْتُبُHe writesبِwithالْحِبْرِinkعَلَىonخُبْزِهِhis bread
He writes with ink on his bread: By Allah, the neighbor shall not eat it.
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَاshall notيَأْكُلُهُeat itالْجَارُthe neighbor
By Allah, the neighbor shall not eat it.
وَAndيَسْأَلُhe asksالْخَادِمَthe servantمِنْout ofبُخْلِهِhis stinginess
And out of his stinginess, he asks the servant: Which loaf has traces (of biting)?
أَيُّWhichرَغِيفٍloafفِيهِis in itآثَارُtraces
Which loaf has traces (of biting)?
وَAndيَخْتِمُhe sealsالْقِدْرَthe cooking potعَلَىfromأَهْلِهِhis family
And he seals the cooking pot from his family, and fastens the bone with a nail.
وَandيَشْعَبُfastensالْعَظْمَthe boneبِwithمِسْمَارٍa nail
and fastens the bone with a nail.
وَAndالْمَاءُwaterفِيinمَنْزِلِهِhis houseطُرْفَةٌis a rarity
And water in his house is a rarity, people drink it in measured amounts.
يَشْرَبُهُdrink itالنَّاسُpeopleبِinمِقْدَارٍmeasured amounts
people drink it in measured amounts.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
أَرَىI seeضَيْفَكَyour guestفِيinالدَّارِthe house
I see your guest in the house, while the agony of death overwhelms him.
وَandكَرْبُthe agony ofالْمَوْتِdeathيَغْشَاهُoverwhelms him
while the agony of death overwhelms him.
عَلَىUponخُبْزِكَyour breadمَكْتُوبٌis written
Upon your bread is written: Allah will suffice you against them.
سَيَكْفِيكَهُمُHe will suffice you against themاللَّهُAllah
Allah will suffice you against them.
وَAndلِforآخَرَ:another:
And to another:
لِForأَبِيAbuنُوحٍNuhرَغِيفٌis a loaf
For Abu Nuh is a loaf always in the lap of his wet nurse,
أَبَداًalwaysفِيinحِجْرِlap ofدَايِهِhis wet nurse,
always in the lap of his wet nurse,
أَبَداًalwaysيَمْسَحُهُwipes itالدَّهْرُtime
always time wipes it with a sleeve and a shield.
بِwithكُمٍّa sleeveوَandوِقَايَةٍa shield
with a sleeve and a shield.