يامدور الهيّن تـرى الكايد أحلـى

يامدور الهيّن تـرى الكايد أحلـى

وأسأل مغنّـي كايدات الطروقـي

وأسأل مغنّـي كايدات الطروقـي

O seeker of ease, know this: the difficult is sweeter.

O seeker of the easy, know that the difficult is sweeter.

And ask the singer of the hardest strains.

And ask the singer of difficult melodies.

الزين غالـي لكـن الأزيـن أغلـى

الزين غالـي لكـن الأزيـن أغلـى

والكلّ شـرّاي ٍ بضاعـة وسوقـي

والكلّ شـرّاي ٍ بضاعـة وسوقـي

Beauty is precious, but greater beauty more precious still;

The beautiful is dear, but the more beautiful is dearer.

and everyone is a buyer—every ware has its market.

And everyone is a buyer—wares and a market.

النوّ عالي و السمـا فوقـه أعلـى

النوّ عالي و السمـا فوقـه أعلـى

ولا فاق علم ٍ جـاه علـم ٍ يفوقـي

ولا فاق علم ٍ جـاه علـم ٍ يفوقـي

The rain cloud is high, and the sky above it higher.

The rain cloud is high, and the sky above it is higher.

Whenever one summit rises, another comes to tower beyond it.

And whenever one peak rises high, another comes to surpass it.

الصعب هلاّ قلت يا صعـب سهـلا

الصعب هلاّ قلت يا صعـب سهـلا

دامك تبيني فأنت يا صعـب شوقـي

دامك تبيني فأنت يا صعـب شوقـي

Hardship becomes welcome when I say, “Hard one, welcome.”

To hardship I said, "Welcome, O hardship, welcome!"

Since you seek me, O hardship, you are my longing.

As long as you want me, O hardship, you are my longing.

أحب اعسف المهـرة اللـي تغلّـى

أحب اعسف المهـرة اللـي تغلّـى

وأحب أروّض كل طـرف ٍ يموقـي

وأحب أروّض كل طـرف ٍ يموقـي

I love to master the filly that plays hard to get,

I love to break in the filly that holds herself aloof.

and I love to tame every mettlesome steed that runs wild.

And I love to tame every unruly steed.

وأحب أسافر مـع سحـاب ٍ تعلّـى

وأحب أسافر مـع سحـاب ٍ تعلّـى

وأحب فوق الغيـم لمـع البروقـي

وأحب فوق الغيـم لمـع البروقـي

I love to journey with a cloud that climbs on high,

And I love to travel with clouds that have risen high.

and I love the lightning flashing above the clouds.

And I love the lightning's gleam above the clouds.

وأحب أساهر بدري اللـي تجلّـى

وأحب أساهر بدري اللـي تجلّـى

وارسم شعاع الشمس عند الشروقي

وارسم شعاع الشمس عند الشروقي

I love to keep vigil with my full moon when it appears in splendor,

And I love to keep vigil with my full moon as it shines forth.

and sketch the sun’s rays at sunrise.

And I draw the sun's rays at sunrise.

يا من علـى ثايـر فـؤادي تولّـى

يا من علـى ثايـر فـؤادي تولّـى

خلّك على قلـب الكرامـه شفوقـي

خلّك على قلـب الكرامـه شفوقـي

O you who took command of my rebellious heart,

O you who took command of my turbulent heart,

be tender with this proud heart.

Be tender toward this dignified heart.

أكـرم عزيـز ٍ بالعمـر مسـتـذلاّ

أكـرم عزيـز ٍ بالعمـر مسـتـذلاّ

يسوق عمـره للمشاريـف سوقـي

يسوق عمـره للمشاريـف سوقـي

The noblest proud man, humbled in this life,

Honor a proud man humbled in life,

drives his years toward the noble heights, as I drive mine.

Who drives his life onward toward the heights.

اخترتك مـن النـاس للقلـب خـلاّ

اخترتك مـن النـاس للقلـب خـلاّ

يا حيثك مرادي و كيفـي و ذوقـي

يا حيثك مرادي و كيفـي و ذوقـي

I chose you from all people as my heart’s beloved,

I chose you from among people as my heart's beloved.

for you are my desire, my delight, and my taste.

Ah, for you are my desire, my pleasure, and my taste.

ما رحـت أدوّر كـل زول ٍ تحلّّـى

ما رحـت أدوّر كـل زول ٍ تحلّّـى

لولاك تسوى ما عطيتـك خفوقـي

لولاك تسوى ما عطيتـك خفوقـي

I never went seeking every handsome soul who adorned himself;

I did not go seeking just any figure adorned with beauty.

were you not worthy, I would not have given you my beating heart.

Had you not been worthy, I would not have given you my beating heart.