ياO آلَpeople of مُرّاكشٍMarrakesh وَفدُdelegation الغِناءَsong أَتىhas come
يا آلَ مُرّاكشٍ وَفدُ الغِناءَ أَتى
منfrom مِصرَEgypt يَسعىhastens لِمَولاكُمto your lord علىupon الراسthe head
من مِصرَ يَسعى لِمَولاكُم على الراس
O people of Marrakesh, the delegation of song has come,
O people of Marrakesh, the convoy of song has come
From Egypt, hastening to your lord upon its head.
From Egypt, hastening to your master swiftly
لاdo not تُنكِرواdeny نُكتَةًa jest فيin طيِّthe folds of بَعثتِهits mission
لا تُنكِروا نُكتَةً في طيِّ بَعثتِه
فَالعودُfor the oud (also: a stick) أَحسَنُthe finest ماthat which يُهدىis given as a gift إلىto قاسيa hard-hearted person
فَالعودُ أَحسَنُ ما يُهدى إلى قاسي
Do not deny a jest tucked within its mission,
Do not deny the elegance of his splendid delegation
For the oud is the finest gift for one who is hard-hearted.
For the lute is the finest gift for one so stern
Sol 6.1