غدا غَيْرَ مُسْعِدِنا ثُمَّ رَاحَا

غدا غَيْرَ مُسْعِدِنا ثُمَّ رَاحَا

يُسَاعِدُنَا طَرَباً وارْتِياحا

يُسَاعِدُنَا طَرَباً وارْتِياحا

In the morning it did not gladden us; then it came at evening,

Tomorrow our unhappiness will cease and go away

bringing us delight and gladness.

It will help us in our confusion and relief

وخُيِّرَ فاختارَ دِينَ الغَبُوقِ

وخُيِّرَ فاختارَ دِينَ الغَبُوقِ

ولَجَّ فليسَ يَرى الإِصْطِباحا

ولَجَّ فليسَ يَرى الإِصْطِباحا

And it was given a choice, so chose the creed of the evening draught,

He was given a choice, so he chose the faith of darkness

and persisted stubbornly, rejecting the morning draught.

He is determined, he cannot see the light of dawn

فإِنْ آنَسَ الصُّبحَ نامَ وشَحَّ

فإِنْ آنَسَ الصُّبحَ نامَ وشَحَّ

وإِنْ آنَسَ الليلَ نَمَّ وفاحا

وإِنْ آنَسَ الليلَ نَمَّ وفاحا

For if it sensed dawn, it slept and grew miserly;

If he senses the morning, he sleeps and withholds

and if it sensed night, it gave itself away and spread its fragrance.

If he senses the night, he sleeps and rants

كما خَيَّرَ اللهُ عَبْدَ المَلِي

كما خَيَّرَ اللهُ عَبْدَ المَلِي

كِ فاخْتارَ فِي رَاحَتَيْهِ السَّمَاحا

كِ فاخْتارَ فِي رَاحَتَيْهِ السَّمَاحا

Just as God gave Abd al-Malik a choice,

Just as God gave His servant Al-Mali

and he chose generosity in his two palms,

A choice, so he chose comfort and lenience

وفي صَهَوَاتِ الخُيُولِ الرِّجَالَ

وفي صَهَوَاتِ الخُيُولِ الرِّجَالَ

ومِنْ أدوَاتِ الرِّجَالِ السِّلاحا

ومِنْ أدوَاتِ الرِّجَالِ السِّلاحا

and men upon the backs of horses,

And the horses, the men with spears

and weapons from among men's implements.

And the weapons of men, the arms

فَعَمَّ القريبَ نَدىً والبَعيدَ

فَعَمَّ القريبَ نَدىً والبَعيدَ

ورَوَّى السُّيوفَ دَماً والرِّماحا

ورَوَّى السُّيوفَ دَماً والرِّماحا

So he showered those near and far with bounty,

So it showered those near with dew, and those far

and quenched swords and spears with blood.

And the swords poured blood, and the spears