The Aphorisms (al-Ḥikam)

1. The intimate prayers (al-munājāt)

   ¶ 268⋯
   اِلٰهِىmy GodأَنَاIالْفَقِيرُthe poor one, needyفِىin, even inغِنَاىَmy wealth, sufficiencyفَكَيْفَhow thenلَاnotأَكُونُshould I beفَقِيرًاpoor, needyفِىinفَقْرِىmy povertyاِلٰهِىmy GodأَنَاIالْجَاهِلُthe ignorant oneفِىin, even inعِلْمِىmy knowledgeفَكَيْفَhow thenلَاnotأَكُونُshould I beجَهُولًاutterly ignorantفِىinجَهْلِىmy ignorance

   My God, I am the poor one even in my wealth; how then should I not be poor in my poverty? My God, I am the ignorant one even in my knowledge; how then should I not be utterly ignorant in my ignorance?

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2. ¶ 269⋯
   اِلَهِىmy Godاِنَّindeed (emphatic)اخْتِلَافَvariation, shifting varietyتَدْبِيرِكَYour disposing of affairsوَسُرْعَةَand the swiftnessحُلُولِdescent, alightingمَقَادِيرِكَYour decrees, measured destiniesمَنَعَاthe two have preventedعِبَادَكَYour servantsالْعَارِفِينَwho know (You)بِكَYou (object of knowing)عَنِfromالسُّكُونِresting content, settlingاِلَىin, upon (reliance)عَطَاءٍa gift, bestowalوَالْيَاسِand despairمِنْكَof Youفِىin, amidبَلَاءٍaffliction, trial

   My God, the shifting variety of Your disposing of things and the swiftness with which Your decrees descend have kept Your servants who know You from resting content in any gift and from despairing of You in any affliction.

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3. ¶ 270⋯
   اِلٰهِىmy Godمِنِّىfrom meمَاwhat, that whichيَلِيقُbefits, is fittingبِلُؤْمِىmy baseness, meannessوَمِنْكَand from Youمَاwhat, that whichيَلِيقُbefits, is fittingبِكَرَمِكَYour generosity, nobility

   My God, from me comes what befits my baseness, and from You comes what befits Your generosity.

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4. ¶ 271⋯
   اِلَهِىmy GodوَصَفْتَYou describedنَفْسَكَYourselfبِاللُّطْفِwith gentle kindnessوَالرَّأْفَةِand compassionبِىtoward meقَبْلَbeforeوُجُودِthe coming-to-be (of)ضَعْفِىmy weaknessأَفَتَمْنَعُنِىwill You then withhold me?مِنْهُمَاfrom these twoبَعْدَafterوُجُودِthe existence (of)ضَعْفِىmy weakness

   My God, You described Yourself as gently kind and compassionate toward me before my weakness came to be; will You then withhold these two from me now that my weakness has come to be?

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5. ¶ 272⋯
   اِلَهِىmy Godاِنْifظَهَرَتِappear, become manifestالْمَحَاسِنُgood qualities, virtuesمِنِّىfrom me, in meفَبِفَضْلِكَthen by Your bountyوَلَكَand Yours (is)الْمِنَّةُthe gracious giftعَلَىَّupon meوَاِنْand ifظَهَرَتِappear, become manifestالْمَسَاوِىevil qualities, faultsفَبِعَدْلِكَthen by Your justiceوَلَكَand Yours (is)الْحُجَّةُthe conclusive argumentعَلَىَّagainst me

   My God, if good qualities appear in me, it is by Your bounty, and Yours is the gracious gift upon me; and if evil qualities appear in me, it is by Your justice, and Yours is the decisive argument against me.

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6. ¶ 273⋯
   اِلَهِىmy GodكَيْفَhowتَكِلُنِىYou entrust, leave meاِلَىtoنَفْسِىmy selfوَقَدْwhen indeedتَوَكَّلْتَYou have taken chargeلِىof meوَكَيْفَand howأُضَامُI am wrongedوَأَنْتَwhen You areالنَّاصِرُthe helperلِىfor meأَمْorكَيْفَhowأَخِيبُI am disappointedوَأَنْتَwhen You areالْحَفِىُّthe ever-solicitousبِىtoward meهَاhere (behold)أَنَاIأَتَوَسَّلُseek to draw nearاِلَيْكَto Youبِفَقْرِىthrough my needاِلَيْكَof Youوَكَيْفَand howأَتَوَسَّلُseek to draw nearاِلَيْكَto Youبِمَاthrough whatهُوَit (is)مُحَالٌimpossibleأَنْthatيَصِلَit reachاِلَيْكَYouأَمْorكَيْفَhowأَشْكُواI complainاِلَيْكَto Youحَالِىmy stateوَهِىَwhen itلَاnotتَخْفَىis hiddenعَلَيْكَfrom YouأَمْorكَيْفَhowأُتَرْجِمُI express, interpretلَكَto Youبِمَقَالِىin my wordsوَهُوَwhen itمِنْكَfrom Youبَرَزَcame forthاِلَيْكَto Youأَمْorكَيْفَhowتَخِيبُbe disappointedآمَالِىmy hopesوَهِىَwhen theyقَدْindeedوَفَدَتْcame as petitionersاِلَيْكَto Youأَمْorكَيْفَhowلَاnotتَحْسُنُbe goodأَحْوَالِىmy statesوَبِكَand through Youقَامَتْthey subsistوَاِلَيْكَand to You

   My God, how could You leave me to myself when You have taken charge of me? How could I be wronged when You are my helper? How could I be disappointed when You are ever solicitous of me? Here I am, seeking to draw near to You through my need of You. Yet how can I seek to draw near to You through something that cannot possibly reach You? How can I complain to You of my state when it is not hidden from You? How can I set out my case to You in words when those words came forth from You toward You? How could my hopes be disappointed when they have come to You as petitioners? How could my states not be good when they subsist through You and [return] to You…

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7. ¶ 274⋯
   اِلٰهِىmy Godمَاhow (exclamatory)أَلْطَفَكَgently kind You areبِىto meمَعَdespite, along withعَظِيمِthe enormity ofجَهْلِىmy ignoranceوَمَاand howأَرْحَمَكَmerciful You areبِىto meمَعَdespite, along withقَبِيحِthe ugliness ofفِعْلِىmy deeds, my doing

   My God, how gently kind You are to me despite the enormity of my ignorance, and how merciful You are to me despite the ugliness of my deeds!

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8. ¶ 275⋯
   اِلٰهِىmy Godمَاhow (exclamatory)أَقْرَبَكَnear You areمِنِّىto meوَمَاand howأَبْعَدَنِىfar I amعَنْكَfrom You

   My God, how near You are to me, and how far I am from You!

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9. ¶ 276⋯
   اِلٰهِىmy Godمَاhow (exclamatory)أَرْأَفَكَtender, compassionate are Youبِىtoward meفَمَاwhat, thenالَّذِىthat which, is it thatيَحْجُبُنِىveils meعَنْكَfrom You

   My God, how tender You are toward me! What, then, is it that veils me from You?

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10. ¶ 277⋯
    اِلٰهِىmy Godقَدْindeed (perfective emphasis)عَلِمْتُI have come to knowبِاخْتِلَافِthrough the diversity ofالْآثَارِthe tracesوَتَنَقُّلَاتِand the successive shifts ofالْاَطْوَارِthe phases, statesأَنَّthatمُرَادَكَwhat You wantمِنِّىof meأَنْthatتَتَعَرَّفَYou make Yourself knownاِلَىَّto meفِىinكُلِّeveryشَئٍthingحَتَّىso thatلَاnotأَجْهَلَكَI be ignorant of Youفِىinشَئٍanything

    My God, through the diversity of the traces and the successive shifts of the phases, I have come to know that what You want of me is that You make Yourself known to me in everything, so that I may not be ignorant of You in anything.

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11. ¶ 278⋯
    اِلٰهِىmy Godكُلَّمَاwheneverاَخْرَسَنِىstruck me dumbلُؤْمِىmy basenessاَنْطَقَنِىmade me speakكَرَمُكَYour generosityوَكُلَّمَاand wheneverآيَسَتْنِىmade me despairأَوْصَافِىmy (own) qualitiesأَطْمَعَتْنِىmade me hopeمِنَّتُكَYour gracious gift

    My God, whenever my baseness strikes me dumb, Your generosity makes me speak; and whenever my own qualities make me despair, Your gracious gift makes me hope.

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12. ¶ 279⋯
    اِلَهِىmy Godمَنْwhoever, he whoseكَانَتْare (lit. were)مَحَاسِنُهُhis good deeds, meritsمَسَاوِىَevil deeds, faultsفَكَيْفَthen howلَاnotتَكُونُwould beمَسَاوِيهِhis evil deedsمَسَاوِىevil deeds, faultsوَمَنْand whoeverكَانَتْare (lit. were)حَقَائِقُهُhis realities, realizationsدَعَاوَى(empty) claims, pretensionsفَكَيْفَthen howلَاnotتَكُونُwould beدَعَاوِيهِhis claimsدَعَاوَى(empty) claims, pretensions

    My God, if a man's good deeds are evil deeds, how could his evil deeds not be evil deeds? And if a man's realities are mere claims, how could his claims not be claims?

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13. ¶ 280⋯
    اِلٰهِىmy GodحُكْمُكَYour decree, judgmentالنَّافِذُcarried into effectوَمَشِيئَتُكَand Your willالْقَاهِرَةُoverpoweringلَمْnot (past negation)يَتْرُكَاthe two leftلِذِىto one possessingمَقَالٍspeech, (spiritual) discourseمَقَالًاa word, claim to speakوَلَاnorلِذِىto one possessingحَالٍa (spiritual) stateحَالًاa state (to rely on)

    My God, Your decree that is carried into effect and Your overpowering will have left no word to one who has words, and no state to one who has a state.

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14. ¶ 281⋯
    اِلَهِىmy Godكَمْhow many (exclamatory)مِنْof (partitive)طَاعَةٍact of obedienceبَنَيْتُهَاI built itوَحَالَةٍand a stateشَيَّدْتُهَاI raised it highهَدَمَtore down, demolishedاعْتِمَادِىmy relianceعَلَيْهَاupon themعَدْلُكَYour justiceبَلْnay ratherأَقَالَنِىreleased me (from a bargain)مِنْهَاfrom themفَضْلُكَYour bounty

    My God, how many an act of obedience have I built, and how many a state have I raised high, only for Your justice to tear down my reliance upon them! Nay rather, it was Your bounty that released me from them.

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15. ¶ 282⋯

    اِلَهِى أَنْتَ تَعْلَمُ وَاِنْ لَمْ تَدُمِ الطَّاعَةُ مِنِّى فِعْلًا جَزْمًا فَقَدْ دَامَتْ مَحَبَّةً وَعَزْمًا

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16. ¶ 283⋯

    اِلٰهِى كَيْفَ أَعْزِمُ وَأَنْتَ الْقَاهِرُ وَكَيْفَ لَا أَعْزِمُ وَأَنْتَ الْآمِرُ

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17. ¶ 284⋯

    الٰهِى تَرَدُّدِى فِى الآثَارِ يُوجِبُ بُعْدَ الْمَزَارِ فَاجْمَعْنِى عَلَيْكَ بِخِدْمَةٍ تُوصِلُنِى الَيْكَ

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18. ¶ 285⋯

    الٰهِى كَيْفَ يُسْتَدَلُّ عَلَيْكَ بِمَا هُوَ فِى وُجُودِهِ مُفْتَقِرٌ اِلَيْكَ أَيَكُونُ لِغَيْرِكَ مِنَ الظُّهُورِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ هُوَ الْمُظْهِرَ لَكَ مَتَى غِبْتَ حَتَّى تَحْتَاجَ اِلَى دَلِيلٍ يَدُلُّ عَلَيْكَ وَمَتَى بَعُدْتَ حَتَّى تَكُونَ الْآثَارُ هِىَ الَّتِى تُوصِلُ اِلَيْكَ

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19. ¶ 286⋯

    إِلَهِى عَمِيَتْ عَيْنٌ لَا تَرَاكَ عَلَيْهَا رَقِيبًا وَخَسِرَتْ صَفْقَةُ عَبْدٍ لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ حُبِّكَ نَصِيبًا

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20. ¶ 287⋯

    اِلٰهِى أَمَرْتَ بِالرُّجُوعِ اِلَى الْآثَارِ فَارْجِعْنِى اِلَيْهَا بِكِسْوَةِ الْاَنْوَارِ وَهِدَايَةِ الْاِسْتِبْصَارِ حَتَّى أَرْجِعَ اِلَيْكَ مِنْهَا كَمَا دَخَلْتُ اِلَيْكَ مِنْهَا مَصُونَ السِّرِّ عَنِ النَّظَرِ اِلَيْهَا وَمَرْفُوعَ الْهِمَّةِ عَنِ الْاِعْتِمَادِ عَلَيْهَا اِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَئٍ قَدِيرٌ

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21. ¶ 288⋯

    اِلٰهِى هٰذَا ذُلِّى ظَاهِرٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ وَهٰذَا حَالِى لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ مِنْكَ أَطْلُبُ الْوُصُولَ اِلَيْكَ وَبِكَ أَسْتَدِلُّ عَلَيْكَ فَاهْدِنِى بِنُورِكَ اِلَيْكَ وَأَقِمْنِى بِصِدْقِ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ

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22. ¶ 289⋯

    اِلٰهِى عَلِّمْنِى مِنْ عِلْمِكَ الْمَخْزُونِ وَصُنِّى بِسِرِّ اسْمِكَ الْمَصُونِ

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23. ¶ 290⋯

    اِلٰهِى حَقِّقْنِى بِحَقَائِقِ أَهْلِ الْقُرْبِ وَاسْلُكْ بِى مَسَالِكَ أَهْلِ الْجَذْبِ

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24. ¶ 291⋯

    اِلٰهِى أَغْنِنِى بِتَدْبِيرِكَ عَنْ تَدْبِيرِى وَبِاخْتِيَارِكَ لِى عَنِ اخْتِيَارِى وَأَوْقِفْنِى عَلَى مَرَاكِزِ اضْطِرَارِى

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25. ¶ 292⋯

    اِلَهِى أَخْرِجْنِى مِنْ ذُلِّ نَفْسِى وَطَهِّرْنِى مِنْ شَكِّى وَشِرْكِى قَبْلَ حُلُولِ رَمْسِى بِكَ أَسْتَنْصِرُ فَانْصُرْنِى وَعَلَيْكَ أَتَوَكَّلُ فَلَا تَكِلْنِى وَاِيَّاكَ أَسْأَلُ فَلَا تُخَيِّبْنِى وَفِى فَضْلِكَ أَرْغَبُ فَلَا تَحْرِمْنِى وَلِجَنَابِكَ أَنْتَسِبُ فَلَا تُبْعِدْنِى وَبِبَابِكَ أَقِفُ فَلَا تَطْرُدْنِى

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26. ¶ 293⋯

    اِلٰهِى تَقَدَّسَ رِضَاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ لَهُ عِلَّةٌ مِنْكَ فَكَيْفَ تَكُونُ لَهُ عِلَّةٌ مِنِّى أَنْتَ الْغَنِىُّ بِذَاتِكَ عَنْ أَنْ يَصِلَ اِلَيْكَ النَّفْعُ مِنْكَ فَكَيْفَ لَا تَكُونُ غَنِيًّا عَنِّى

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27. ¶ 294⋯

    اِلَهِى اِنَّ الْقَضَاءَ وَالْقَدَرَ غَلَبَنِى وَاِنَّ الْهَوَى بِوَثَائِقِ الشَّهْوَةِ أَسَرَنِى فَكُنْ أَنْتَ النَّصِيرَ لِى حَتَّى تَنْصُرَنِى وَتَنْصُرَ بِى وَأَغْنِنِى بِفَضْلِكَ حَتَّى أَسْتَغْنِىَ بِكَ عَنْ طَلَبِى أَنْتَ الَّذِى أَشْرَقْتَ الْاَنْوَارَ فِى قُلُوبِ أَوْلِيَائِكَ حَتَّى عَرَفُوكَ وَوَحَّدُوكَ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِى أَزَلْتَ الْاَغْيَارَ مِنْ قُلُوبِ أَحْبَابِكَ حَتَّى لَمْ يُحِبُّوا سِوَاكَ وَلَمْ يَلْجَؤُا اِلَى غَيْرِكَ أَنْتَ الْمُؤْنِسُ لَهُمْ حَيْثُ أَوْحَشَتْهُمُ الْعَوَالِمُ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِى هَدَيْتَهُمْ حَتَّى اسْتَبَانَتْ لَهُمُ الْمَعَالِمُ مَاذَا وَجَدَ مَنْ فَقَدَكَ وَمَا الَّذِى فَقَدَ مَنْ وَجَدَكَ لَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ رَضِىَ دُونَكَ بَدَلًا وَلَقَدْ خَسِرَ مَنْ بَغَى عَنْكَ مُتَحَوَّلًا

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28. ¶ 295⋯

    اِلٰهِى كَيْفَ يُرْجَى سِوَاكَ وَأَنْتَ مَا قَطَعْتَ الاِحْسَانَ وَكَيْفَ يُطْلَبُ مِنْ غَيْرِكَ وَأَنْتَ مَا بَدَّلْتَ عَادَةَ الاِمْتِنَانِ يَا مَنْ أَذَاقَ أَحِبَّاءَهُ حَلَاوَةَ مُؤَانَسَتِهِ فَقَامُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مُتَمَلِّقِينَ وَيَا مَنْ أَلْبَسَ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ مَلَابِسَ هَيْبَتِهِ فَقَامُوا بِعِزَّتِهِ مُسْتَعِزِّينَ أَنْتَ الذَّاكِرُ مِنْ قَبْلِ الذَّاكِرِينَ وَأَنْتَ الْبَادِئُ بِالاِحْسَانِ مِنْ قَبْلِ تَوَجُّهِ الْعَابِدِينَ وَأَنْتَ الْجَوَادُ بِالْعَطَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِ طَلَبِ الطَّالِبِينَ وَأَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ ثُمَّ أَنْتَ لِمَا وَهَبْتَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْتَقْرِضِينَ

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29. ¶ 296⋯

    اِلٰهِى اُطْلُبْنِى بِرَحْمَتِكَ حَتَّى أَصِلَ اِلَيْكَ وَاجْذِبْنِى بِمِنَّتِكَ حَتَّى أُقْبِلَ عَلَيْكَ

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30. ¶ 297⋯

    اِلَهِى اِنَّ رَجَائِى لَا يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْكَ وَاِنْ عَصَيْتُكَ كَمَا أَنَّ خَوْفِى لَا يُزَايِلُنِى وَاِنْ أَطَعْتُكَ

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31. ¶ 298⋯

    اِلٰهِى قَدْ دَفَعَتْنِى الْعَوَالِمُ اِلَيْكَ وَقَدْ أَوْقَفَنِى عِلْمِى بِكَرَمِكَ عَلَيْكَ

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32. ¶ 299⋯

    اِلٰهِى كَيْفَ أَخِيبُ وَأَنْتَ أَمَلِى أَمْ كَيْفَ أُهَانُ وَعَلَيْكَ مُتَّكَلِى

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33. ¶ 300⋯

    اِلٰهِى كَيْفَ أَسْتَعِزُّ وَأَنْتَ فِى الذِّلَّةِ أَرْكَزْتَنِى أَمْ كَيْفَ لَا أَسْتَعِزُّ وَاِلَيْكَ نَسَبْتَنِى أَمْ كَيْفَ لَا أَفْتَقِرُ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِى فِى الْفَقْرِ أَقَمْتَنِى أَمْ كَيْفَ أَفْتَقِرُ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِى بِجُودِكَ أَغْنَيْتَنِى أَنْتَ الَّذِى لَا اِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ تَعَرَّفْتَ لِكُلِّ شَئٍ فَمَا جَهِلَكَ شَئٌ وَأَنْتَ الَّذِى تَعَرَّفْتَ اِلَىَّ فِى كُلِّ شَئٍ فَرَأَيْتُكَ ظَاهِرًا فِى كُلِّ شَئٍ فَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ لِكُلِّ شَئٍ يَا مَنِ اسْتَوَى بِرَحْمَانِيَّتِهِ عَلَى عَرْشِهِ فَصَارَ الْعَرْشُ غَيْبًا فِى رَحْمَانِيَّتِهِ كَمَا صَارَتِ الْعَوَالِمُ غَيْبًا فِى عَرْشِهِ مَحَقْتَ الْآثَارَ بِالْآثَارِ وَمَحَوْتَ الْاَغْيَارَ بِمُحِيطَاتِ أَفْلَاكِ الْاَنْوَارِ يَا مَنِ احْتَجَبَ فِى سُرَادِقَاتِ عِزِّهِ عَنْ أَنْ تُدْرِكَهُ الْاَبْصَارُ يَا مَنْ تَجَلَّى بِكَمَالِ بَهَائِهِ فَتَحَقَّقَتْ عَظَمَتَهُ الْاَسْرَارُ كَيْفَ تَخْفَى وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ أَمْ كَيْفَ تَغِيبُ وَأَنْتَ الرَّقِيبُ الْحَاضِرُ

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Translations, word glosses and term notes are AI-generated (Claude) and marked as such; no published translation is reproduced.Word analysis is automatic (CAMeL Tools), guided by the text's vowelling. How this text was established.