فَرَّقَ الدَّهْرُ بَيْنَنَا بَعْدَ قُرْبٍ

فَرَّقَ الدَّهْرُ بَيْنَنَا بَعْدَ قُرْبٍ

فَبِأَضْعَافِ مَا تَفَضَّل أَذْنَبْ

فَبِأَضْعَافِ مَا تَفَضَّل أَذْنَبْ

Time parted us after we had been close;

Time has separated us after being close

So its wrongs were many times the favors it bestowed.

So for manifold what you were gracious, I have sinned

لِيَ فِي مِصْرَ مَا أَشَاءُ مِنَ الْطَّيِّبِ

لِيَ فِي مِصْرَ مَا أَشَاءُ مِنَ الْطَّيِّبِ

وَفِي بَعَلْبَكَ مَا هُوَ أَطْيَبْ

وَفِي بَعَلْبَكَ مَا هُوَ أَطْيَبْ

In Egypt I have all the good things I desire,

I have in Egypt whatever sweet thing I desire

And in Baalbek, what is more delightful still.

And in Baalbek what is even sweeter

وَرْدُ هَذَا الوَادِي جَمِيلٌ وَلَكِنْ

وَرْدُ هَذَا الوَادِي جَمِيلٌ وَلَكِنْ

كَيْفَ وَرْدُ الرُّبَى وَتَجْلُوهُ زَيْنَبْ

كَيْفَ وَرْدُ الرُّبَى وَتَجْلُوهُ زَيْنَبْ

The roses of this valley are beautiful, and yet—

The roses of this valley are beautiful but

How fair are the roses of the hills when Zaynab makes them shine!

How are the roses of the meadow with Zainab adorning them