وَقائِل لي أَبَدا

وَقائِل لي أَبَدا

إِن جَدّ أَو إِن هَزُلا

إِن جَدّ أَو إِن هَزُلا

And one who always speaks to me,

And one who says to me forever

whether in earnest or in jest,

Whether in earnest or jest

حَتّى إِذا اِضطُرَّ إِلى

حَتّى إِذا اِضطُرَّ إِلى

قَول نَعم قال بَلى

قَول نَعم قال بَلى

until, when he is compelled to

Until when forced to

say 'yes' (naʿam), he says 'yes' (balā),

Saying yes, said no

تَأَنُّساً مِنهُ بِما

تَأَنُّساً مِنهُ بِما

قَد ضَمِنَت من ذِكر لا

قَد ضَمِنَت من ذِكر لا

taking comfort, for his part, in what

To put him at ease with what

it contains—the mention of 'no' (lā).

Was implied but not said