تَرَفَّقBe gentle بِناwith us ماas long as دامَremains أَمرُكَyour command نافِذاًin force
تَرَفَّق بِنا ما دامَ أَمرُكَ نافِذاً
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you لاnot تَدريyou know مَتىwhen لَيسَis not يَنفُذُtakes effect
فَإِنَّكَ لا تَدري مَتى لَيسَ يَنفُذُ
Be gentle with us as long as your command is in force.
Be gentle with us while you have the power
For you do not know when it will cease to take effect.
For you know not when your word will cease to hold sway
وَإِنand if تُعطِكَgive you الأَيّامُthe days ماwhat قَدalready أَخَذتَهُyou have taken it
وَإِن تُعطِكَ الأَيّامُ ما قَد أَخَذتَهُ
فَماthen ... not زالَتِceased الأَيّامُthe days تُعطيgive وَتَأخُذُand take
فَما زالَتِ الأَيّامُ تُعطي وَتَأخُذُ
And if the days give you what you have already taken,
And if the days return to you what you have taken away
then the days have never ceased to give and take.
Still the days will continue to give and take away