لَقَد خِفتُ حَتَّى لَو تَمُرُّ حَمامَةٌ

لَقَد خِفتُ حَتَّى لَو تَمُرُّ حَمامَةٌ

لَقُلتُ عَدُوٌّ أَو طَليعَةُ مَعشَرِ

لَقُلتُ عَدُوٌّ أَو طَليعَةُ مَعشَرِ

Indeed, I was so afraid that, if even a dove passed by,

I have become so fearful that if a dove were to pass by

I would say, 'An enemy, or a scout for a band!'

I would say, "An enemy or an advance guard."

وَخِفتُ خَليلي ذا الصَّفاءِ وَرابَني

وَخِفتُ خَليلي ذا الصَّفاءِ وَرابَني

وَقيلَ فُلانٌ أَو فُلانَةُ فَاِحذَرِ

وَقيلَ فُلانٌ أَو فُلانَةُ فَاِحذَرِ

And I feared my sincere friend, and he aroused my suspicion;

And I feared my dear, pure friend and he avoided me,

And it was said, 'Such-and-such a man, or such-and-such a woman—beware!'

And it was said, "So-and-so" or "What's-her-name," so beware.

فَأَصبَحتُ كَالوَحشِيِّ يَتبَعُ ما خَلا

فَأَصبَحتُ كَالوَحشِيِّ يَتبَعُ ما خَلا

وَيَترُكُ مَأنوسَ البِلادِ المُدَعثرِ

وَيَترُكُ مَأنوسَ البِلادِ المُدَعثرِ

So I became like a wild beast, seeking deserted places,

So I have become like a wild beast who follows the lonely places

And leaving the inhabited, prosperous lands behind.

And avoids the companionable towns in disarray.

إِذا قيلَ خَيرٌ قُلت هَذي خَديعَةٌ

إِذا قيلَ خَيرٌ قُلت هَذي خَديعَةٌ

وَإِن قيلَ شَرٌّ قُلتُ حَقٌّ فَشَمِّرِ

وَإِن قيلَ شَرٌّ قُلتُ حَقٌّ فَشَمِّرِ

When good was spoken of, I said, 'This is a trick';

If good is spoken of, I say, "This is a trick."

And if evil was spoken of, I said, 'True—so gird yourself!'

And if evil is spoken of, I say, "Truth, so roll up your sleeves."