إِذا ما كُنتَ عِندَ قِيانِ موسى

إِذا ما كُنتَ عِندَ قِيانِ موسى

فَعِندَ اللَهِ فَاِحتَسِبِ السُرورا

فَعِندَ اللَهِ فَاِحتَسِبِ السُرورا

If ever you are with Musa's singing slave girls,

If ever you find yourself among Musa's singing girls,

then seek God's recompense for your lost joy.

Then look to God to compensate you for your lost joy.

خَنافِسُ خَلفَ عيدانٍ قُعودٌ

خَنافِسُ خَلفَ عيدانٍ قُعودٌ

يُطَوِّلُ قُربَها اليَومَ القَصيرا

يُطَوِّلُ قُربَها اليَومَ القَصيرا

Beetles seated behind lutes—

Beetles sitting behind their lutes,

being near them makes the short day long.

Their nearness makes the short day seem long.

إِذا غَنَّينَ صَوتاً كانَ مَوتاً

إِذا غَنَّينَ صَوتاً كانَ مَوتاً

وَهِجنَ بِهِ عَلَيكَ الزَمهَريرا

وَهِجنَ بِهِ عَلَيكَ الزَمهَريرا

When they sing a song, it is death,

When they sing a tune, it is sheer death,

and with it they unleash bitter cold upon you.

And with it, they unleash a freezing chill upon you.