وَقَفتُكَ لَم أَمدَحكَ لا لِمَذَمَّةٍ

وَقَفتُكَ لَم أَمدَحكَ لا لِمَذَمَّةٍ

وَلَكِن تَأَنَّيتُ اِنتِجاعَكَ لِلحَمدِ

وَلَكِن تَأَنَّيتُ اِنتِجاعَكَ لِلحَمدِ

I kept you waiting; I did not praise you—not to disparage you,

I stood before You, not to praise or to blame,

But I patiently awaited your quest for praise.

But waited to call You back for praise.

وَإِنِّيَ لا أَقفو الثَناءَ بِغَيرِهِ

وَإِنِّيَ لا أَقفو الثَناءَ بِغَيرِهِ

وَلا أَبتَغيهِ قَبلَ أَن يُبتَغى عِندي

وَلا أَبتَغيهِ قَبلَ أَن يُبتَغى عِندي

And I do not follow praise with anything but praise,

I do not follow praise with other than it,

Nor seek it before it is sought from me.

Nor seek it before it's sought in me.

أَهِب يا اِبنَ عِمَرانَ بِشُكري فَإِنَّني

أَهِب يا اِبنَ عِمَرانَ بِشُكري فَإِنَّني

سَميعٌ إِلى الداعي قَريبٌ عَلى البُعدِ

سَميعٌ إِلى الداعي قَريبٌ عَلى البُعدِ

Summon my gratitude, O son of Imran, for I am

Answer, O Son of Imran, with thanks—for I

Attentive to the caller, near despite the distance.

Hear those who call, near though far they be.

فَما مِن يَدٍ قَدَّمتَها قُلتُ مُثنِياً

فَما مِن يَدٍ قَدَّمتَها قُلتُ مُثنِياً

عَلَيكَ وَلَكِنّي هَزَزتُكَ لِلمَجدِ

عَلَيكَ وَلَكِنّي هَزَزتُكَ لِلمَجدِ

It was for no favor you had bestowed that I spoke in praise

No hand have I stretched out and called blessed,

Of you; rather, I stirred you toward glory.

But shaken you for glory to see.

فَإِن شِئتَ أَلقَينا التَفاضُلَ بَينَنا

فَإِن شِئتَ أَلقَينا التَفاضُلَ بَينَنا

وَقُلنا جَميلاً وَاِقتَصَرنا عَلىالوُدِّ

وَقُلنا جَميلاً وَاِقتَصَرنا عَلىالوُدِّ

So, if you wish, we can set aside distinctions of merit between us,

If you wish, we'll vie—exchanging nobleness,

And say kind things, content with friendship alone.

Saying finest things, content with amity.