لي حَبيبٌ يَلَذُّ في

لي حَبيبٌ يَلَذُّ في

هِ عَذابي وَيَعذُبُ

هِ عَذابي وَيَعذُبُ

I have a beloved in whom

I have a beloved in whom

my torment is delightful and sweet.

my torment is delightful and sweet.

لَيسَ لي فيهِ مَطمَعٌ

لَيسَ لي فيهِ مَطمَعٌ

لا وَلا عَنهُ مَذهَبُ

لا وَلا عَنهُ مَذهَبُ

I have no hope of attaining him,

I have no hope of winning him,

nor any way to escape him.

no, nor any way to leave him.

يَتَمَنّى مُنيَّتي

يَتَمَنّى مُنيَّتي

وَهوَ لِلقَلبِ مَطلَبُ

وَهوَ لِلقَلبِ مَطلَبُ

He longs for my death,

He wishes for my death,

yet he is all my heart desires.

yet he is the heart's desire.

إِنَّ قَتلَ المُحِبِّ في

إِنَّ قَتلَ المُحِبِّ في

هِ حَلالٌ وَطَيِّبُ

هِ حَلالٌ وَطَيِّبُ

Indeed, to slay the lover for

Indeed, slaying the lover for

him is lawful—and good.

him is lawful and good.

أَنا فيهِ مُخاطِرٌ

أَنا فيهِ مُخاطِرٌ

حينَ يَأتي وَيَذهَبُ

حينَ يَأتي وَيَذهَبُ

For him I hazard myself

I take a risk with him

whenever he comes and goes.

when he comes and goes:

فَعَلى الظَهرِ حَيَّةٌ

فَعَلى الظَهرِ حَيَّةٌ

وَعَلى الصُدغِ عَقرَبُ

وَعَلى الصُدغِ عَقرَبُ

So forever he is my beloved;

for on his back is a serpent,

and upon his temple, a scorpion.

and on his temple a scorpion.