فَعَلتَ فَأَثنَوا شاكِرينَ لمُنعِم

فَعَلتَ فَأَثنَوا شاكِرينَ لمُنعِم

فَعُدتَ فَعادوا بِالَّتي لَك أَوجَبُ

فَعُدتَ فَعادوا بِالَّتي لَك أَوجَبُ

You acted, so they praised, grateful to a benefactor.

You acted, and they thanked the Benefactor gratefully,

Then you did so again, and they returned with what was more rightly due to you.

Then you returned, and they resumed what was most binding for you.

فَأَيّ فَعال مِثل فِعلكَ واحِدٌ

فَأَيّ فَعال مِثل فِعلكَ واحِدٌ

وَأَيّ ثَناء من ثَنائِكَ أَطيَبُ

وَأَيّ ثَناء من ثَنائِكَ أَطيَبُ

So what single deed can match your deed?

What deed is there like yours, unique?

And what praise is sweeter than praise of you?

What praise is there sweeter than your praise?

وَأَيُّهُم أملي بِنَفسٍ كَريمَة

وَأَيُّهُم أملي بِنَفسٍ كَريمَة

يَردّ عَلَيها مِثل بَيتِكَ مَنصِبُ

يَردّ عَلَيها مِثل بَيتِكَ مَنصِبُ

And which of them is richer in a noble soul,

Who among them has a soul so noble

Answered by a lineage like that of your house?

That a verse like yours could be addressed to it?