لَمّا اِصطَفَيتُ بِفِطنَةٍ وَمَهارَةٍ

لَمّا اِصطَفَيتُ بِفِطنَةٍ وَمَهارَةٍ

وَخَصَّصتُ بِالذِكرى وَحُسنُ الاِحتِفا

وَخَصَّصتُ بِالذِكرى وَحُسنُ الاِحتِفا

When I was chosen for discernment and skill,

When I was chosen for my wisdom and skill

And singled out for remembrance and gracious celebration,

And honored for memory and good celebration

قالَ الحَواسِدِ كَم نَرى مِن ماهِرِ

قالَ الحَواسِدِ كَم نَرى مِن ماهِرِ

قُلتُ لَهُم ما كُلُّ ماهِرِ مُصطَفى

قُلتُ لَهُم ما كُلُّ ماهِرِ مُصطَفى

The envious said, “How many skilled men we see!”

The envious said, "How many skilled we see!"

I told them, “Not every skilled man is chosen.”

I said to them, "Not every skilled one is the Chosen."