بَدَأتَ بِإِحسانٍ وَثَنَّيتَ بِالعُلا

بَدَأتَ بِإِحسانٍ وَثَنَّيتَ بِالعُلا

وَثَلَّثتَ بِالحُسنى وَرَبَّعتَ بِالكَرَم

وَثَلَّثتَ بِالحُسنى وَرَبَّعتَ بِالكَرَم

I began with benevolence, then followed it with lofty honor;

You began with kindness and followed it with nobility;

I made gracious goodness the third, and generosity the fourth.

And added goodness third and generosity fourth.

وَيَسَّرتَ أَمري وَاِعتَنَيتَ بِحاجَتي

وَيَسَّرتَ أَمري وَاِعتَنَيتَ بِحاجَتي

وَأَخَّرتَ لا عَنّي وَقَدَّمتَ لي نَعَم

وَأَخَّرتَ لا عَنّي وَقَدَّمتَ لي نَعَم

I smoothed my way, making my very need my advocate;

You eased my affairs and attended to my need;

I kept “No” away from me and brought “Yes” forward for myself.

And held back 'no' from me and brought 'yes' forward for me.

فَإِن نَحنُ كافَأنا فَأَهلٌ لِوُدِّنا

فَإِن نَحنُ كافَأنا فَأَهلٌ لِوُدِّنا

وَإِن نَحنُ قَصَّرنا فَما الوُدُّ مُتَّهَم

وَإِن نَحنُ قَصَّرنا فَما الوُدُّ مُتَّهَم

If we repay you, you are worthy of our affection;

So if we repay you, you are worthy of our affection;

And if we fall short, our affection is not to blame.

And if we fall short, our affection is not to be doubted.