قالَ الغَديرُ لِنَفسِهِ

قالَ الغَديرُ لِنَفسِهِ

يا لَيتَني نَهرٌ كَبير

يا لَيتَني نَهرٌ كَبير

The brook said to itself:

The stream said to itself

The brook said unto itself,

Oh, if only I were a great river,

I wish I were a great river

"Oh, how I wish I were a mighty river,

مِثلُ الفُراتِ العَذبِ أَو

مِثلُ الفُراتِ العَذبِ أَو

كَالنيلِ ذي الفَيضِ الغَزير

كَالنيلِ ذي الفَيضِ الغَزير

Like the sweet Euphrates, or

Like the fresh Euphrates or

Like the sweet Euphrates, or

Like the Nile with its abundant flood!

The Nile with its plentiful overflow

Like the Nile of bountiful flood,

تَجري السَفائِنُ موقِراتٌ

تَجري السَفائِنُ موقِراتٌ

فيهِ بِالرِزقِ الوَفير

فيهِ بِالرِزقِ الوَفير

Ships sail, laden

Ships would sail proudly on me

Wherein ships sail, heavily laden

Upon it with abundant provisions.

With abundant provisions

With cargoes of abundant provision.

هَيهاتِ يَرضى بِالحَقيرِ

هَيهاتِ يَرضى بِالحَقيرِ

مِنَ المُنى إِلّا الحَقير

مِنَ المُنى إِلّا الحَقير

Far from it! None is content with petty

Alas, only the lowly are content

Nay, none is content with the paltry

Aspirations except the petty.

With petty wishes

Among desires, save the paltry soul."

وَاِنسابَ نَحوَ النَهرِ لا

وَاِنسابَ نَحوَ النَهرِ لا

يَلوي عَلى المَرجِ النَضير

يَلوي عَلى المَرجِ النَضير

And it flowed toward the river, without

And flows towards the river not

So it flowed toward the river, never

Turning aside to the verdant meadow.

Turning on the lush meadow

Glancing back at the blooming meadow,

حَتّى إِذا ما جائَهُ

حَتّى إِذا ما جائَهُ

غَلَبَ الهَديرُ عَلى الخَرير

غَلَبَ الهَديرُ عَلى الخَرير

Until, when it reached it,

Until when it comes to it

Until, the moment it reached the waters,

The roar drowned out the murmur.

The roar overwhelms the murmur

The mighty roar drowned out the gentle murmur.