يا كَنَّةً ما كُنتِ غَيرَ لَئيمَةٍ

يا كَنَّةً ما كُنتِ غَيرَ لَئيمَةٍ

بَيضاءَ مِثلَ الرَوضَةِ المِحلالِ

بَيضاءَ مِثلَ الرَوضَةِ المِحلالِ

O daughter-in-law, you were nothing but base,

O owl, you have never been anything but vile,

fair as a meadow fit for encampment.

White like a blossoming meadow,

ما إن تُبيتينا بِصَوتٍ صُلَّبٍ

ما إن تُبيتينا بِصَوتٍ صُلَّبٍ

فَيِبيتَ مِنهُ القَومُ في بَلبالِ

فَيِبيتَ مِنهُ القَومُ في بَلبالِ

You do not make us pass the night with a harsh voice,

You hoot at us in a raspy voice,

so that the people spend the night in distress because of it.

Leaving people restless all night,

وَلا تَبادِرُ بالشِتاءِ وَلِيدَنا

وَلا تَبادِرُ بالشِتاءِ وَلِيدَنا

القِدرَ تُنزِلُها بِغَيرِ جِعالِ

القِدرَ تُنزِلُها بِغَيرِ جِعالِ

Nor does she beat our boy in winter

Do not pounce on our newborn in winter,

to the pot, taking it down without a pot-holder.

Destiny brings that without needing you.