إني أغار على المولى وصاحبه

إني أغار على المولى وصاحبه

من الحديثِ بشيء لا أسرّ به

من الحديثِ بشيء لا أسرّ به

I jealously guard the bondsman and his master

Indeed, I jealously guard the Master and his companion

from talk of anything that brings me no joy.

from talk of something in which I take no pleasure.

وما يليقُ بحرٍّ أنْ يبلغه

وما يليقُ بحرٍّ أنْ يبلغه

فإنَّ تبليغه يزري بمنصبه

فإنَّ تبليغه يزري بمنصبه

Nor does it befit a free man to convey it,

And it is not fitting for a noble man to convey it,

for his conveying it detracts from his station.

for conveying it detracts from his standing.

ونائبُ الله يرمي بالسهامِ فلا

ونائبُ الله يرمي بالسهامِ فلا

يقف لع غرض في صدر مذهبه

يقف لع غرض في صدر مذهبه

God’s vicegerent looses arrows, yet no

And God's deputy shoots arrows, so no

target stands before him at the forefront of his path.

target stands [for him?] at the forefront of his course.

وليس يدري الذي بالقلبِ من صور

وليس يدري الذي بالقلبِ من صور

إلا لبيبٌ يراه في تقلبه

إلا لبيبٌ يراه في تقلبه

Nor does anyone know what forms lie within the heart

And none knows the forms within the heart

save a discerning man who sees it through its transformations.

except a discerning man who sees it in its transformations.