عَجِبتُI marvelled لِقِندنلٍat a lamp تَضَمّنَcontained قَلبُهُits heart
عَجِبتُ لِقِندنلٍ تَضَمّنَ قَلبُهُ
زُلالاًclear water وناراًand a fire فيin دُجىdarkness الليلِthe night تُشعَلُis kindled
زُلالاً وناراً في دُجى الليلِ تُشعَلُ
I marvelled at a lamp whose heart contained
I'm amazed at one who harbors in his heart
clear water and a fire kindled in the darkness of night.
Cool water and blazing fire in the gloom of night
وأعجبُand more astonishing منthan ذاthis أنهthat it طولَthroughout دهرِهِits lifetime
وأعجبُ من ذا أنه طولَ دهرِهِ
يَجنُfalls عَليهِupon it الليلُthe night وهوwhile it is مسلسلُchained
يَجنُ عَليهِ الليلُ وهو مسلسلُ
And more astonishing than this is that, throughout its life,
More amazing still that all his life
night falls upon it while it is chained.
The night descends on him while he is chained