نِعمَexcellent is أَبوfather of الأَضيافِthe guests فيin المَحلِdearth غالِبٌGhalib
نِعمَ أَبو الأَضيافِ في المَحلِ غالِبٌ
إِذاwhen لَبِسَcovered الغاديthe morning wayfarer يَدَيهِhis two hands مِنَbecause of البَردِthe cold
إِذا لَبِسَ الغادي يَدَيهِ مِنَ البَردِ
Ghalib is a fine father to guests in times of dearth,
Generous is the host in his dwelling, though shivering
when the morning wayfarer covers his hands against the cold.
When the cold numbs his hands, and with stoic calm
وَماand not كانَhe was وَقّافاًhabitually hesitant عَلىbefore الضَيفِthe guest مُحجِماًholding back
وَما كانَ وَقّافاً عَلى الضَيفِ مُحجِماً
إِذاwhen جاءَهُhe came to him يَوماًone day وَلاnor كابِيَfailing to spark الزَندِthe fire-stick
إِذا جاءَهُ يَوماً وَلا كابِيَ الزَندِ
And he never stood hesitating before a guest, holding back,
He masks all trace of gloom should a guest arrive
when one came to him any day, nor did his fire-stick fail to spark.
On a cheerless day, hiding resentment inside.
وَكانَand he was إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle أَصدَرَتهُsent him away from water مَكارِمٌnoble deeds
وَكانَ إِذا ما أَصدَرَتهُ مَكارِمٌ
وَساوَرَand he leapt at أُخرىother ones غَيرَnot مُجتَنِحِturning aside from الوِردِthe watering-place
وَساوَرَ أُخرى غَيرَ مُجتَنِحِ الوِردِ
And whenever noble deeds sent him away from the water,
But once with open arms he embraces, his virtues
he would leap at further deeds, never turning aside from the watering-place.
Abound, and his roseate smile masks no hurt feelings.