أفْدِي التي لم يُعَطِّلْ جيدَها عَوزٌ

أفْدِي التي لم يُعَطِّلْ جيدَها عَوزٌ

مِنَ الحُليِّ ولا حلّاهُ إعوارُ

مِنَ الحُليِّ ولا حلّاهُ إعوارُ

I would ransom her whose neck was not left bare by want

I ransom her whose necklace was never disabled by poverty,

of jewelry, nor adorned by any imperfection.

Nor adorned by ornaments to conceal defects,

بل الحُليُّ عليه من تمائمهِ

بل الحُليُّ عليه من تمائمهِ

لأنها لِعيُوب فيه أستار

لأنها لِعيُوب فيه أستار

Rather, the jewelry upon it is among its amulets,

Rather, ornaments upon her are like amulets,

for they are veils for flaws within it.

For she uses them to veil flaws.

ظُنُّوا بجيدٍ يكون الحَلْيُ عُوذَتُهُ

ظُنُّوا بجيدٍ يكون الحَلْيُ عُوذَتُهُ

هَلْ فوق مِقداره في الأرض مقدار

هَلْ فوق مِقداره في الأرض مقدار

Think of a neck whose protective charm is jewelry—

They thought a neck would be protected by its necklace,

is there on earth any worth above its worth?

Is there anything beyond its worth in the world?