أَجارُكِ يا أُسدَ الفَراديسِ مُكرَمُ
فَتَسكُنَ نَفسي أَم مُهانٌ فَمُسلَمُ
Your protection, O lion of paradises, is honorable
Is your neighbor, O lions of Al-Faradis, held in honor,
So my soul settles down - or is it humiliated and surrendered?
That my soul may find rest, or is he scorned and betrayed?
وَرائي وَقُدّامي عُداةٌ كَثيرَةٌ
أُحاذِرُ مِن لِصٍّ وَمِنكِ وَمِنهُمُ
Behind me and in front of me there are many enemies
Behind me and before me, enemies gather in multitudes;
I beware of a thief, you, and them
I guard against the thief, and against you, and against them.
فَهَل لَكِ في حِلفي عَلى ما أُريدُهُ
فَإِنّي بِأَسبابِ المَعيشَةِ أَعلَمُ
So do you consent to ally with me for what I want?
Will you then join a pact with me for what I desire?
For I know the means of livelihood
For I am far more versed in the arts of survival.
إِذاً لَأَتاكِ الخَيرُ مِن كُلِّ وِجهَةٍ
وَأَثرَيتِ مِمّا تَغنَمينَ وَأَغنَمُ
Then goodness will come to you from every direction
Then bounty would flow to you from every quarter,
And you will prosper from what you and I gain
And you would grow rich from the spoils that we both gain.