لَئِن كُنتُ أستَسقيكَ في كلِّ بُرهَةٍ

لَئِن كُنتُ أستَسقيكَ في كلِّ بُرهَةٍ

فإنَّ أخاكَ الغَيثَ مازالَ يُستَسقَى

فإنَّ أخاكَ الغَيثَ مازالَ يُستَسقَى

If indeed I ask you for rain at every interval,

Though I implore you at every moment

your brother, the rain, has always been called upon.

Your brother the rain is always implored

ويا ربَّ همٍّ طارقٍ كلَّما جَرَت

ويا ربَّ همٍّ طارقٍ كلَّما جَرَت

جَواري أَبي إِسحاقَ جرَّت لَه سحقا

جَواري أَبي إِسحاقَ جرَّت لَه سحقا

And oh, many a care that comes by night—whenever there flow

O Lord of pressing worry, whenever

Abu Ishaq’s gifts, they bring it crushing ruin.

My neighbor Abi Is'haq's maidens pass by, they crush me

وهنَّ ثلاثٌ كلَّ عامٍ وما أَرى

وهنَّ ثلاثٌ كلَّ عامٍ وما أَرى

نداكَ إِذا نُودي يضيعُ لَه حَقَّا

نداكَ إِذا نُودي يضيعُ لَه حَقَّا

And they are three each year, and I do not believe

They are three, each year, yet I do not see

your bounty, when called upon, neglects anyone’s rightful due.

Your call, when summoned, lose any right

وقَد مَضَت الأُولى وأَمضَيتُ شُكرها

وقَد مَضَت الأُولى وأَمضَيتُ شُكرها

فثنِّ بِما يَفنَى لأُثني بِما يَبقَى

فثنِّ بِما يَفنَى لأُثني بِما يَبقَى

And the first has passed, and I have given thanks for it;

The first has passed and I have expressed my gratitude

so give a second of what perishes, that I may praise you with what endures.

So reward with that which perishes, that I may reward with that which remains