بأبيmay my father be ransom نقيّunblemished الردفthe buttocks يصعبis difficult تارةًat times
بأبي نقيّ الردف يصعب تارةً
ويعيدهand brings him back سعدSaʿd يهونmakes easy الملتقىthe meeting
ويعيده سعد يهون الملتقى
May my father ransom the one with unblemished buttocks, difficult at times.
By the one whose runner I ride at times with difficulty
And Saʿd brings him back, making the meeting easy.
and at others with ease, as Sa’d makes the encounter effortless,
ويحثُّنيand urges me on داعيcaller الهوىlove فبحقِّهso, for its sake
ويحثُّني داعي الهوى فبحقِّه
ياO سعSaʿ عرِّجturn aside بيwith me علىtoward الواديthe valley النقاal-Naqā (the sand dune)
يا سع عرِّج بي على الوادي النقا
And love’s caller urges me on; so, for love’s sake,
urging me on is the heart’s desire, so by its right,
O Saʿ, turn aside with me toward the valley of al-Naqā.
O Sa’, take me through the valley, straight and true!