زِدْني جَوىً يا حُبَّهُم وَأَضِلَّني

زِدْني جَوىً يا حُبَّهُم وَأَضِلَّني

يا مُرشِدي عَن مَنْهَجِ السُّلوانِ

يا مُرشِدي عَن مَنْهَجِ السُّلوانِ

Deepen my anguish, O love for them, and lead me astray,

Fill me with their love though it leads me astray,

O my guide, from the path of consolation.

O my guide, away from the path of righteousness.

لا تَنْهَنِي عَنهمْ فإِنَّ صَبابَتي

لا تَنْهَنِي عَنهمْ فإِنَّ صَبابَتي

لا تَستَطيعُ تُطيعُ مَن يَنْهانِي

لا تَستَطيعُ تُطيعُ مَن يَنْهانِي

Do not bid me forsake them, for my ardent longing

Do not forbid me from them, for my youthfulness

Cannot obey whoever forbids me.

Cannot obey one who prohibits me.

أَحْببتُهُم أَزمانَ غُصنِيَ ناضِرٌ

أَحْببتُهُم أَزمانَ غُصنِيَ ناضِرٌ

حَتّى عَسَا وَعَصَى بَنَانَ الحانِي

حَتّى عَسَا وَعَصَى بَنَانَ الحانِي

I loved them in the days when my branch was green,

I loved them when my branch was fresh and flourishing

Until it grew rigid and defied the bender’s fingers.

Until fate rebelled against the laws of the passionate.

فَاِرجعْ بِيَأسِكَ لَستَ أَوَّلَ آمِرٍ

فَاِرجعْ بِيَأسِكَ لَستَ أَوَّلَ آمِرٍ

شَقَّ الغَرَامُ عصَاهُ بالعصيانِ

شَقَّ الغَرَامُ عصَاهُ بالعصيانِ

So return with your despair; you are not the first giver of orders

Take back your despair, you are not the first commander

Whose staff passion has split in rebellion.

Whose stubborn love split his staff of command.