أباfather of (in address) طاهرٍTahir ياO نجمَstar أُفْقِhorizon مكارمٍnoble deeds
أبا طاهرٍ يا نجمَ أُفْقِ مكارمٍ
بداappeared وهْوَand it is سامٍlofty للنّواظرِto the gazing eyes عالِhigh
بدا وهْوَ سامٍ للنّواظرِ عالِ
Abu Tahir, O star on the horizon of my noble deeds,
Abu Tahir, O star of a horizon of noble deeds,
you appeared—lofty, precious in the eyes of beholders.
That has appeared, lofty and high before gazing eyes.
بمالكَwith your wealth حَمْديmy praise إنif شَرَيْتَyou bought مُغالياًpaying dearly
بمالكَ حَمْدي إن شَرَيْتَ مُغالياً
رَبِحْتَyou gained وَقاكَmay it protect you المجدُglory ماwhat هوit غالprecious
رَبِحْتَ وَقاكَ المجدُ ما هو غال
If you purchased my praise with your wealth, however dearly,
If you buy my praise with your wealth, paying dearly,
you would profit—may glory preserve you!—for it is not costly.
You gain—may glory protect you—something precious.
فهلthen, have? لكyou عُذْرٌan excuse أنto تَبِيتَspend the night مُسوِّفاًdelaying
فهل لك عُذْرٌ أن تَبِيتَ مُسوِّفاً
إذاwhen كانis حَمْديmy praise تَشْتَريهyou buy it بِماليwith my wealth
إذا كان حَمْدي تَشْتَريه بِمالي
Then what excuse have you for spending the night procrastinating,
Then have you any excuse to spend the night delaying,
when it is with my own money that you buy my praise?
When you buy my praise with my own wealth?
