أَوحَشَ الجُنبُذانَ فَالدَيرُ مِنها

فَقُراها فَالمَنزِلُ المَحظورُ

The wilderness has made the monastery dreary

So it is poor, and the dwelling forbidden

أَسكُنُ البَدوَ ما أَقَمتِ بِبَدوٍ

فَإِذا ما حَضَرتِ طابَ الحُضورُ

I dwell in the desert as long as you stay in the desert

So when you come, the presence is pleasant

أَيُّ عَيشٍ أَلَذُّهُ لَستِ فيهِ

أَو تُرى نِعمَةٌ بِهِ وَسُرورُ

What is the sweetest life in which you are not

Or is there in it bliss and happiness