1. وَلَقَد صِدنا غَزالاً سانِحاً

    فَأَرَدنا ذَبحَهُ لَمّا سَنَح

    And indeed we caught a gazelle crossing our path,

    So we meant to slaughter it when it appeared.

  2. فَإِذا شِبهُكِ ما نُنكِرُهُ

    حينَ أَزجى طَرفَهُ ثُمَّ لَمَح

    Then behold, your likeness—we could not deny it—

    When it cast its gaze and then glanced.

  3. فَتَرَكناهُ وَلَولا حُبُّكُم

    فَاِعلَمي ذاكَ لَقَد كانَ ذبح

    So we let it go; were it not for love of you—

    Know this—it would surely have been slaughtered.

  4. أَنتَ يا ظَبيُّ طَليقٌ آمِنٌ

    فَاِغدُ في الغِزلانِ مَسروراً وَرُح

    You, O gazelle, are free and safe;

    So go joyfully among the gazelles, morning and evening.