ياO مَنyou who بِكُلّin every دَقيقsubtle matter
يا مَن بِكُلّ دَقيق
غَدواthey have become مِنthan الناسpeople أَدرىmore knowledgeable
غَدوا مِن الناس أَدرى
O you who, in every subtle matter,
Have become more knowledgeable than others,
ماwhat مثلthe equivalent of قَولa saying مُحبّa lover
ما مثل قَول مُحبّ
حاجاكُمhe posed you a riddle جاعَhe hungered دَهراfor an age
حاجاكُم جاعَ دَهرا
What is the equivalent of a lover’s saying,
Who posed you this riddle: 'He hungered for an age'?