عمدتَ إليَّ فآيستنِي

عمدتَ إليَّ فآيستنِي

فأخرجتني من إِسار الطَّمَعْ

فأخرجتني من إِسار الطَّمَعْ

You turned to me and made me lose hope,

You sought me out when I was in despair

and so freed me from the bondage of desire.

And freed me from the shackles of vain hope

فكنتُ كسَيْفٍ جُلَنْدِيَةٍ

فكنتُ كسَيْفٍ جُلَنْدِيَةٍ

فزال ولم يدرِ عنه الطَّبَعْ

فزال ولم يدرِ عنه الطَّبَعْ

So I was like a sword of Julandiyya:

So I became like an Indian sword

the rust fell away from it without its knowing.

Whose temper left it, though it knew not why

وسيّانِ ذلك من شيمتي

وسيّانِ ذلك من شيمتي

أَأَعطى جوادٌ لها أمْ مَنَعْ

أَأَعطى جوادٌ لها أمْ مَنَعْ

To my nature, both are alike—

And that is characteristic of my nature

whether a generous man gives to it or withholds.

Does a steed grant requests or does it refuse?

ولم أدرِ أنّك ممّا يضرّ

ولم أدرِ أنّك ممّا يضرّ

إِذا لم تكنْ لِيَ ممّن نَفَعْ

إِذا لم تكنْ لِيَ ممّن نَفَعْ

And I did not know you were a source of harm,

I did not know you were one who hurts

if you were not among those who benefited me.

If you were not one who could help