تَمادى بِهِ الهِجرانُ وَاِستَحسَنَ الهَجرا

تَمادى بِهِ الهِجرانُ وَاِستَحسَنَ الهَجرا

وَآلى يَميناً لا يُكَلِّمُني الدَهرا

وَآلى يَميناً لا يُكَلِّمُني الدَهرا

Estrangement carried him ever further, and he came to relish desertion.

Prolonged estrangement pleased him, so he opted for separation

And he swore an oath that he would never speak to me.

And turned away, no longer speaking to me forevermore

فَوَاللَهِ ما اِستَسنَنتُ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ

فَوَاللَهِ ما اِستَسنَنتُ بَعدَ مَوَدَّةٍ

صَديقاً وَلا أَرهَقتُ ذا زَلَّةٍ عُسرا

صَديقاً وَلا أَرهَقتُ ذا زَلَّةٍ عُسرا

So, by God, after affection I have never assailed

By God, since losing a friend I once cherished

A friend, nor burdened one who erred with hardship.

I've not befriended another, or ostracized one for a minor error

فَإِن عادَ في وِدّي رَجَعتُ لِوِدِّهِ

فَإِن عادَ في وِدّي رَجَعتُ لِوِدِّهِ

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي لا أُحَمِّلُهُ إِصرا

وَإِلّا فَإِنّي لا أُحَمِّلُهُ إِصرا

If he returns to my affection, I return to his;

If he returns, desiring my companionship, I too will want his friendship

Otherwise, I impose no heavy burden on him.

Otherwise, I'll not compel him against his wishes to make amends

وَإِن مالَ عَنّي خائِباً نَحوَ عُذرِهِ

وَإِن مالَ عَنّي خائِباً نَحوَ عُذرِهِ

تَسَلَّيتُ عَنهُ وَاِستَعَرتُ لَهُ صَبرا

تَسَلَّيتُ عَنهُ وَاِستَعَرتُ لَهُ صَبرا

And if he turns away from me, disappointed, resorting to his excuse,

And if he turns from me, frustrated, excusing himself,

I console myself without him and borrow patience for him.

I'll let him be and patiently endure his absence

أُعِدُّ لِمَن أَبدى العَداوَةَ مِثلَها

أُعِدُّ لِمَن أَبدى العَداوَةَ مِثلَها

وَأُجزي عَلى الإِحسانِ واحِدَةً عَشرا

وَأُجزي عَلى الإِحسانِ واحِدَةً عَشرا

I prepare equal hostility for whoever shows it,

To one who shows me such hostility, I'll repay in kind

And repay a single kindness tenfold.

But for one good deed, I'll recompense tenfold