خُلق الرقيب على الحبيب بليّة

خُلق الرقيب على الحبيب بليّة

ومن البلاء مثقّل ومخفّف

ومن البلاء مثقّل ومخفّف

The watcher was created to be the lover’s affliction;

The watchful critic of the beloved is a calamity,

and of afflictions, some are heavy and some are light.

And of calamities there are those that burden and those that lighten.

لو شاء من سمك السماء بقُدرة

لو شاء من سمك السماء بقُدرة

لم يُبق للرقباء عيناً تطرف

لم يُبق للرقباء عيناً تطرف

If He who raised the heavens by His power so willed,

If the One who ordained the heavens willed with His power,

He would leave the watchers not an eye that could blink.

He would not leave for critics an eye that blinks.