ولي صديق أرجفته مدحتي

ولي صديق أرجفته مدحتي

وكانَ ظنِّي أنه لا يرتجف

وكانَ ظنِّي أنه لا يرتجف

I have a friend whom my praise set trembling,

I have a friend whom my praise made tremble,

though I had thought he was not one to tremble.

And I had thought that he would not tremble.

فقل له يا بحر علمٍ وندًى

فقل له يا بحر علمٍ وندًى

أنا الذي لو جاءَ للبحرِ نشف

أنا الذي لو جاءَ للبحرِ نشف

So tell him: O sea of learning and generosity,

So tell him: O sea of knowledge and generosity,

I am the man who, were I to come to the sea, would make it run dry.

I am the one who, were I to come to the sea, would make it run dry.