1. The youth greeted the breeze in the meadows of Lebanon
Where passion dwells, and the haunts of gazelles,

2. And the Guardian watched over its inhabitants, for they are
In the best of lands, the best of people.

3. A people whose manners and faces have been refined
So that beauty and kindness are joined together.

4. They have white hands and arms, that if depicted
Would be like necklaces of pearls.

5. The mark of generosity is scattered poems in the universe
And these marks are the essence of generosity.

6. A people, if a stranger visited their lands,
They would make him one of them in the highest place.

7. If you fear the evils of fickle events, then
Seek them out, they will protect you from fickle events.

8. If the eternal realm held my dwelling place,
I would abandon it for Lebanon.

9. I bound my heart to its passion, so I no longer
Desire anything else, for I do not have two hearts.

10. And love is beautiful in youth and childhood
Like the beauty of a meadow’s flower in April.

11. It is the eternal garden hoped for
By the messengers of guidance, the early humans.

12. Ages have passed, yet it remains as if
It was built yesterday by the hand of the Merciful.

13. O inhabitants, greetings from an émigré,
Though greetings are the utmost one in distress can manage.

14. You have become, above the kingdoms, a patch
If not for the presence of the rabble of crows.

15. A people who have made religion among you
A partner for trapping the chinking gold.

16. So they pretended to be ascetic until
Their guile was hidden from the vigilant.

17. And they were crafty in scheming until they became
More cunning than even the devil.

18. They imposed taxes out of greed on the people
As if the taxes of the sultan were not enough for the miserable.

19. They disbelieved in His blessing which He gave them
And accused Him of heresy and ingratitude.

20. And they went to extremes in violating His rights
While He is the Loving One, pleased with their loyalty.

21. Until we thought He would neglect
Punishment, though He is never one to neglect punishment.

22. But He strives, though His striving
Benefits only the priest, the deacon, and the beadle.

23. If I did not respect their well-known doctrine
I would reveal their secrets openly.

24. So beware if you are heedless,
For fate lies in wait for the heedless.

25. Verily, when the devils despaired of your affairs
They came to you in the guise of monks.

26. Beware of being deceived by their attire
For they are wolves in the clothing of sheep.

27. One who follows the blind out of love for guidance
Will surely stumble with the blind.

28. If I have a sin and they are its forgiveness
I prefer to remain without forgiveness.

29. Or if I am in the fires while deliverance from it
Lies with them, I am content with the fires.

30. More agreeable to my soul than disgraceful submission
Which only cowards can accept.