وأخضر لولا آيةٌ ما ركبتُهُ

وأخضر لولا آيةٌ ما ركبتُهُ

وللّه تصريفُ القضاءِ كما شاءَ

وللّه تصريفُ القضاءِ كما شاءَ

And a green sea—were it not for a miracle, I would never have ventured upon it;

And a green sea—but for a sign, I would not have sailed upon it.

And to God belongs the ordering of destiny, however He wills.

And to God belongs the ordering of fate, as He wills.

أقول حذاراً من ركوب عبابه

أقول حذاراً من ركوب عبابه

أيا ربّ إن الطينَ قد ركبَ الماءَ

أيا ربّ إن الطينَ قد ركبَ الماءَ

I cry, “Beware of riding its raging swell—

I say, in dread of riding its surging waters:

O Lord! Clay has indeed mounted water!”

O Lord, indeed clay has ridden upon water!