وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْعَقَبَةُ
Und was läßt dich wissen, was der steile Paßweg ist?
Woher sollst du wissen, was der steile Weg ist?
How will you comprehend what the Steep ascent is? --
What enables you to perceive what the ascent is?
And what should make you know what the uphill path of steep and difficult ascent is?
And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road?
And what shall make thee understand that which the steep is?
And what have you understood, what the valley is!
And what will explain to you the ascent?
And what made you know/informed you what the high mountain path/road (is) ?
And what will explain to you what the Aqabah is?
(It is) to free a slave,
Would that you knew what Aqaba is!
Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! -
And what will make you comprehend what the uphill road is?
And what will make you know the path that is steep?
And what will explain to thee the path that is steep?-