لي في الحِمى خِلٌّ خَلا عَن نيّةٍ

لي في الحِمى خِلٌّ خَلا عَن نيّةٍ

لَم تَخل مِن كَرَم وَحُسن طَويّةِ

لَم تَخل مِن كَرَم وَحُسن طَويّةِ

In the sanctuary I have a beloved, devoid of an intention

I have a friend who feigned affection

that lacked neither generosity nor goodness of heart.

Though not lacking in generosity or grace

وَعَلى عُهودٍ بَيننا عَربيَّةٍ

وَعَلى عُهودٍ بَيننا عَربيَّةٍ

ما زالَ يَحلف لي بِكُلِّ أَلِيّةِ

ما زالَ يَحلف لي بِكُلِّ أَلِيّةِ

And upon the Arab pledges between us,

And swore on covenants between us as Arabs

he kept swearing to me by every oath

Every oath conceivable to always stand by me

أن لا يَزال مَدى الزَمان مُصاحبي

أن لا يَزال مَدى الزَمان مُصاحبي

حَتّى إِذا خانَ الظلومُ بِعَهدِهِ

حَتّى إِذا خانَ الظلومُ بِعَهدِهِ

that he would remain my companion for all time.

That he would remain my companion forever

Until, when the cruel one betrayed his pledge,

But when the traitor broke his word

أَضحى يَجورُ عَلى المُحبِّ بِصَدّهِ

أَضحى يَجورُ عَلى المُحبِّ بِصَدّهِ

فَجَنى الكَذوبُ وَمِن تَجاوُزِ حَدِّهِ

فَجَنى الكَذوبُ وَمِن تَجاوُزِ حَدِّهِ

he began to wrong the lover by turning away.

He wronged his lover by his rejection

So the inveterate liar did wrong—and through overstepping his bounds,

And reaped the harvest of his lies and transgression

لَمّا جَنى نَزل العذار بِخَدّهِ

لَمّا جَنى نَزل العذار بِخَدّهِ

فَتَعَجّبوا لِسَوادِ وَجهِ الكاذِبِ

فَتَعَجّبوا لِسَوادِ وَجهِ الكاذِبِ

when he did wrong, beard-down descended upon his cheek.

When he reaped this, shame marked his cheek

So marvel at the blackness of the liar's face.

And they wondered at the blackness on the liar's face