عافاكِ من حبي ومن أحوالهِ

عافاكِ من حبي ومن أحوالهِ

وحماك ربك من رهيب خصاله

وحماك ربك من رهيب خصاله

May He spare you my love and its moods,

I wish you well, freed from my love and its turmoil,

and may your Lord protect you from its fearsome traits.

And may your Lord protect you from its dreadful traits.

إني لأدعو الله دعوةَ عابد    

إني لأدعو الله دعوةَ عابد

متبتل يرجو كريم نواله

متبتل يرجو كريم نواله

I do indeed pray to God with a worshipper's prayer,

I pray to God with devotion, imploring

wholly devoted, hoping for His generous bounty,

His generous gifts, hoping to appease His ire.

أن يمنعنّك عن هواي وعنفه

أن يمنعنّك عن هواي وعنفه

ويصون خطوك من شراك ضلاله

ويصون خطوك من شراك ضلاله

that He firmly keep you from my passion and its violence,

That He may prevent you from my passion and its violence,

and guard your steps from the snares of its waywardness.

And guard your steps from the pits of its misguidance.

فإذا وقعت ولا وقعت ترقبي    

فإذا وقعت ولا وقعت ترقبي

عمرَ السجين يضيع في أغلاله

عمرَ السجين يضيع في أغلاله

Then if you fall—and may you never fall—expect

So if you fall or do not fall, watch out,

a prisoner's life wasting away in his shackles.

A prisoner’s life is wasted in shackles.

إني أحذّر من ركوب عُبابه    

إني أحذّر من ركوب عُبابه

وعنيف لُجَّته وقسوة حاله

وعنيف لُجَّته وقسوة حاله

I warn you against riding its surging waters,

I warn against boarding its turbulent ship

and the fury of its depths and the harshness of its condition.

With its violent waves and harsh condition.

فإذا رمى وجه السفين بموجة    

فإذا رمى وجه السفين بموجة

رعْناءَ أبلغها فصيح مقاله

رعْناءَ أبلغها فصيح مقاله

Then if it strikes the ships' bows with a wave,

For when its prow is struck by a billow,

a reckless one—its eloquent speech delivers it.

Made eloquent by an articulate sailor,

والغوص بعض فنونه فتعلمي    

والغوص بعض فنونه فتعلمي

فن السباحة قبل خوض مجاله

فن السباحة قبل خوض مجاله

And diving is among its arts, so learn

And its diving is one of its skills, know

the art of swimming before venturing into its realm.

Swimming before venturing in its sphere.

لا شيء غير العُمق في إبحاره    

لا شيء غير العُمق في إبحاره

والموت كل الموت عند كماله

والموت كل الموت عند كماله

There is nothing but depth in sailing upon it,

Nothing but depth is in its sailing,

and death—utter death—at its fullness.

And death, only death, at its acme.

فتبصري ما شئت قبل ركوبه    

فتبصري ما شئت قبل ركوبه

وتسلحي لجِلاده ونزاله

وتسلحي لجِلاده ونزاله

So look closely, as much as you wish, before riding it,

So observe before embarking,

and arm yourself for combat and dueling with it.

And arm yourself for its scourge and fight.

أو فامكثي بالشط صنع محاذر    

أو فامكثي بالشط صنع محاذر

وجلٍ يهاب الموج في إقباله

وجلٍ يهاب الموج في إقباله

Or else remain on the shore, as a cautious person would,

Or stay on shore, avoiding risks,

fearful, dreading the waves as they approach.

Fearing the waves in their onslaught.

فلربما عادت مراكب عشقه    

فلربما عادت مراكب عشقه

يومًا إليك تروم نفي ملاله

يومًا إليك تروم نفي ملاله

For perhaps the vessels of its passion will return

For its ships of passion may one day

one day to you, seeking to banish its boredom.

Return to you, seeking to forget their ennui.