لَقَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَشكوcomplain of البُعدَthe distance مِنكَfrom you وَبَينَناand between us
لَقَد كُنتُ أَشكو البُعدَ مِنكَ وَبَينَنا
بِلادٌlands إِذاwhenever ما(emphatic particle) شِئتُI wished قَرَّبَهاbrought them near الوَخدُthe camel’s swift pace
بِلادٌ إِذا ما شِئتُ قَرَّبَها الوَخدُ
Indeed, I used to lament the distance from you, while between us
Lay lands a camel’s swift pace could bring near whenever I wished.
فَكَيفَhow, then وَفيماand in the space بَينَناbetween us مُلكُthe realm of قَيصَرٍCaesar
فَكَيفَ وَفيما بَينَنا مُلكُ قَيصَرٍ
وَلاand no أَمَلٌhope يُحيّrevives النُفوسَsouls وَلاnor any وَعدُpromise
وَلا أَمَلٌ يُحيّ النُفوسَ وَلا وَعدُ
How, then, with Caesar’s realm between us,
And no hope to revive souls, nor any promise?