Advice for Ǧwāher
The video recording of this song upon which the following transcription and translation were based was initially hosted on YouTube. However, the video is no longer available.
| Advice for Ǧwāher | Translation |
|---|---|
| 1) ǧwāher hōnet we-mdīt // w-līn tḳaźfen elhēb | Ǧwāher is a fragrant breeze and the south wind // that extinguishes our burning |
| 2) men ṭayres tbōsen lā // ġǧūten ṣeyġet wel ḏhēb | And after her, they [the young girls] do not dress up // the young girls, in jewelry and gold. |
| 3) ber ṭawr ḥōkem śnīs // w-līn ḳōdem eḳḳəlēb | Once upon a time, a ruler [the Sultan] saw her // and gave us an advance on [her] dowry |
| 4) hīn l-ʾādēden kel byūt // ġeyr eḳḳənōdel we-slēb | To us, to each and every one of us, [he gave] houses // not to mention additional gifts and guns. |
| 5) ḥḫēsa melyōn tmōm // hēn ṭāṭ yḳawder yeḥsēb | Her uncles received a complete million // if anyone is able, let him count it. |
| 6) w-nūke kel eḏ-heh śnēǧ // hnīs eḳōdem eṭṭəlēb | And everyone who is a relation came // and offered their requests to her. |
| 7) tʾawmer heh el-tektəwōl // kel śī yḫawreǧ heh sbēb | She says to him: don’t rush // everything arises from a reason. |
| 8) ḥebrētī merźōne tēš // ḥṭar emādeš w-meḏhēb | My girl, I will entrust you with some wisdom // atop your mind and good sense. |
| 9) el be-ǧwēreš tehmey // bātī eźawlet w-ʾāǧēb | Don’t listen to your neighbors // ladies of arrogance and desire. |
| 10) teġteyrī hen el-heh ḳyōs // we-mġōr be-ḥrōš teddəbēb | If you say [something] that is not weighed and measured // then afterwards, in your head, you will be ashamed. |