عطيّتُهُ إِذَا أعْطَى سُرورٌ

عطيّتُهُ إِذَا أعْطَى سُرورٌ

فإنْ سَلبَ الَّذِي أعْطَى أثَابَا

فإنْ سَلبَ الَّذِي أعْطَى أثَابَا

His gift, when he gives, is joy;

When he gives, it brings joy;

and if he takes back what he gave, he grants reward.

And if he takes back what he gave, he rewards.

فأيُّ النِّعمَيَيْنِ أعُدُّ فَضْلاً

فأيُّ النِّعمَيَيْنِ أعُدُّ فَضْلاً

وَأَحْمَدُ عِنْدَ عُقْباها إيَابَا

وَأَحْمَدُ عِنْدَ عُقْباها إيَابَا

Which of the two blessings, then, do I deem a favor

So which of the two blessings do I value more

and worthier of praise in its ultimate return:

And consider better when it departs?

أنِعْمتُهُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ سُروراً

أنِعْمتُهُ الَّتِي كَانَتْ سُروراً

أمْ الأُخرَى الَّتِي جَلَبَتْ ثوابا

أمْ الأُخرَى الَّتِي جَلَبَتْ ثوابا

is it his blessing that was joy,

Is it his blessing that brought me joy?

or the other, which brought reward?

Or the other that earned reward?