أَدُنياكَ تَخطُبُها أَيِّماً

أَدُنياكَ تَخطُبُها أَيِّماً

وَيُعضِلُها دونَكَ العاضِلُ

وَيُعضِلُها دونَكَ العاضِلُ

Is it your world you court as a woman still unwed,

Is it your world you woo, an unwed woman,

while the obstructer bars her from you?

while the one who bars her marriage keeps her from you?

قَدِ اِنتَضَلَ الناسُ في أَمرِها

قَدِ اِنتَضَلَ الناسُ في أَمرِها

فَهَل يوجَدُ الرَجُلُ الناضِلُ

فَهَل يوجَدُ الرَجُلُ الناضِلُ

People have indeed vied in archery over her affair;

People have indeed vied in archery over her;

but can the victorious archer be found?

so can a victorious archer be found?

وَخِلُّكَ أَفضَلُ مِن غَيرِهِ

وَخِلُّكَ أَفضَلُ مِن غَيرِهِ

وَما في الوَرى كُلُّهُم فاضِلُ

وَما في الوَرى كُلُّهُم فاضِلُ

Your intimate friend is better than another,

And your friend is better than anyone else,

yet not everyone among humankind is virtuous.

yet among all humankind there is no virtuous person.