ألا رب راجي حاجة لا ينالها

ألا رب راجي حاجة لا ينالها

وآخر قد تقضى له وهو جالس

وآخر قد تقضى له وهو جالس

Behold, many a man hopes for a need he never attains,

Ah, many a person hopes for something but does not obtain it.

while another has it granted to him as he sits;

And another may have it fulfilled for him while he sits.

يحول لها هذا وتقضى لغيره

يحول لها هذا وتقضى لغيره

فتأتي الذي تقضى له وهو آيس

فتأتي الذي تقضى له وهو آيس

this man schemes to gain it, yet it is granted to someone else,

This one strives for it, yet it is fulfilled for someone else.

and it comes to the one for whom it was granted when he has lost all hope.

So it comes to the one for whom it is fulfilled, though he has lost hope.