وافى بوضّاح الجَبين صَبيحِهِ

وافى بوضّاح الجَبين صَبيحِهِ

وَفَرى بِشفرتِهِ طُلى مَذبوحِهِ

وَفَرى بِشفرتِهِ طُلى مَذبوحِهِ

His beloved came to him, radiant of brow,

He came with his handsome one, bright of brow.

and with his glance rent the liver of the one who loved him.

And with his blade he slit his victim’s throat.

رِفقاً بِذي ظمأٍ فَداك بِروحِهِ

رِفقاً بِذي ظمأٍ فَداك بِروحِهِ

يا واضع السِكّين بَعدَ ذَبيحِهِ

يا واضع السِكّين بَعدَ ذَبيحِهِ

Be gentle with one athirst, who ransomed you with his life,

Be gentle with a thirsty one who ransomed you with his soul,

O you who, after slaughtering him, set the knife

O one who places the knife, after slaying his victim,

في فيهِ يَسقيها رضابَ لهاتِهِ

في فيهِ يَسقيها رضابَ لهاتِهِ

لِلّهِ درُّ غرارها مِن شَفرَةٍ

لِلّهِ درُّ غرارها مِن شَفرَةٍ

in his mouth, where the saliva of his uvula gives it drink.

In his mouth, letting it drink the sweet saliva of his uvula.

How wondrous its keen edge—what a blade!

God bless its cutting edge—what a blade!

نالَت بسرِّ لماك كُلّ مَسرَّةٍ

نالَت بسرِّ لماك كُلّ مَسرَّةٍ

إِن شئت تَعلم سرّها عَن خِبرَةٍ

إِن شئت تَعلم سرّها عَن خِبرَةٍ

Through the mystery of your dark lips, it attained every delight.

It won every delight through the secret of your dusky lips.

If you wish to learn its secret through experience,

If you wish to learn its secret through experience,

ضَعها عَلى المَذبوح ثاني مَرَّةٍ

ضَعها عَلى المَذبوح ثاني مَرَّةٍ

وَأَنا الضَمين لَه بردِّ حَياتِهِ

وَأَنا الضَمين لَه بردِّ حَياتِهِ

lay it upon the slaughtered one a second time,

Place it upon the slain one a second time,

and I guarantee that his life will be restored.

And I guarantee to him that his life will be restored.