حَتّىuntil مَتىwhen لَيتَif only شِعريmy knowledge ياO اِبنَson of يَقطينِYaqtin
حَتّى مَتى لَيتَ شِعري يا اِبنَ يَقطينِ
أُثنيI praise عَلَيكَupon you بِماfor what لاnot مِنكَfrom you تولينيyou bestow on me
أُثني عَلَيكَ بِما لا مِنكَ توليني
How long, I wonder, O son of Yaqtin,
For how long, oh how I wish I knew, son of Yaqtin
must I praise you for what you do not bestow on me?
I praise you with that which you do not inspire in me
أَماdid ... not? عَلِمتَyou knew جَزاكَmay He reward you اللَهُGod صالِحَةًa good reward
أَما عَلِمتَ جَزاكَ اللَهُ صالِحَةً
عَنّيon my behalf وَزادَكَand may He increase you خَيراًin goodness ياO اِبنَson of يَقطينYaqtin
عَنّي وَزادَكَ خَيراً يا اِبنَ يَقطين
Do you not know—may God reward you well
Don't you know - may God reward you with righteousness
on my behalf and grant you more good, O son of Yaqtin—
And increase you in good, oh son of Yaqtin
أَنّيthat I أُريدُكَI want you لِلدُنياfor this world وَزينَتِهاand its adornment
أَنّي أُريدُكَ لِلدُنيا وَزينَتِها
وَلاand not أُريدُكَI want you يومَon the Day of الدينِJudgment لِلدينِfor religion
وَلا أُريدُكَ يومَ الدينِ لِلدينِ
that I want you for this world and its adornment,
That I want you for this world and its beauty
and do not want you for religion on the Day of Judgment?
And I do not want you on Judgement Day for the faith