كُنتُ وَلَم أَعرِفكِ في غِبطَةٍ

كُنتُ وَلَم أَعرِفكِ في غِبطَةٍ

بَينَ جِنانٍ وَمياهٍ عِذاب

بَينَ جِنانٍ وَمياهٍ عِذاب

Before I knew you, I lived in bliss,

I was unaware of you amidst

Amid gardens and sweet waters.

The bliss between gardens and tormenting waters

أَخرَجتِني مِنها وَأَعقَبتِني

أَخرَجتِني مِنها وَأَعقَبتِني

مُخيلَةً مِن كاذِباتِ السَحاب

مُخيلَةً مِن كاذِباتِ السَحاب

You drove me out of it and gave me instead

You brought me out of there and left me with

A rain-promising cloud among clouds that deceive.

An illusion made of the lies of clouds

حَتّى إِذا أَعطَشتِني قُلتِ لي

حَتّى إِذا أَعطَشتِني قُلتِ لي

دونَكَ يا ظَمآنُ لَمعَ السَراب

دونَكَ يا ظَمآنُ لَمعَ السَراب

Until, when you had made me thirsty, you said to me:

Until when you made me thirsty, you told me

"Take, O thirsty one, the mirage's gleam!"

Beyond you, O thirst, mirages shine

لَو أَنَّني اِستَقبَلتُ مِنكِ الَّذي اِس

لَو أَنَّني اِستَقبَلتُ مِنكِ الَّذي اِس

تَدبَرتُ لَم أَشقَ بِهَذا العَذاب

تَدبَرتُ لَم أَشقَ بِهَذا العَذاب

Had I known from you at first what I

If only I had known at first what

Learned later, I would not have suffered this torment.

I found out later, I would not have suffered this torment

حَتّى مَتى أَكتُبُ أَشكو الهَوى

حَتّى مَتى أَكتُبُ أَشكو الهَوى

وَلا تَجودينَ بِرَدِّ الجَواب

وَلا تَجودينَ بِرَدِّ الجَواب

How long must I write, lamenting love,

How long will I write complaining of passion

While you will not offer a reply?

With you not granting me any response?

إِن لَم تُجيبيني بِما أَشتَهي

إِن لَم تُجيبيني بِما أَشتَهي

فَخَبِّريني بِوصولِ الكِتاب

فَخَبِّريني بِوصولِ الكِتاب

If you will not answer me as I desire,

If you do not answer me with what I desire

Then let me know that the letter has arrived.

Then inform me at least my letter reached you