ما بِئرُ جلدٍ دَلوُهُ من عُودِ

ما بِئرُ جلدٍ دَلوُهُ من عُودِ

وماؤُهُ من حَجَرٍ جُلمودِ

وماؤُهُ من حَجَرٍ جُلمودِ

What well is made of hide, its bucket of wood,

Not a well of leather, its bucket of wood

And its water from a solid stone?

Nor its water from stubborn, unyielding rock

وذلك الحَجرُ لمَّا يطلُعُ

وذلك الحَجرُ لمَّا يطلُعُ

يُسقى به ماءٌ نَميرٌ يَنبُعُ

يُسقى به ماءٌ نَميرٌ يَنبُعُ

And that stone, when it rises,

That rock, when it rises

With it, pure, welling water is given to drink.

Waters a soft, gushing spring

وبِنتُه أعَزُّ مِن أُمٍّ وأب

وبِنتُه أعَزُّ مِن أُمٍّ وأب

وخيرُ ما يُرجى وخيرُ ما يُحَب

وخيرُ ما يُرجى وخيرُ ما يُحَب

And its daughter is dearer than a mother and a father,

Its daughter dearer than mother or father

And the best of what is hoped for, and the best of what is loved.

The best of hopes, the most beloved

وهو أمامك فحقق بالعيان

وهو أمامك فحقق بالعيان

وحُلَّ لغزاً صاغَه سخرُ البيان

وحُلَّ لغزاً صاغَه سخرُ البيان

And it is before you, so verify it by sight,

It's before you, perceive it clearly

And solve a riddle fashioned by eloquence's mockery.

Solve this riddle wrought by the art of rhetoric

ولا تَتَم ليلكَ وافتِكر أصاح

ولا تَتَم ليلكَ وافتِكر أصاح

وحُلَّ كِلمَةً بِآخِرِ الصَّبَاحِ

وحُلَّ كِلمَةً بِآخِرِ الصَّبَاحِ

And do not finish your night; ponder, O friend,

Don't let your night pass without thinking, friend

And solve a word at morning's end.

Unlock this word by morning's end