قلب المحب على المحبوب متعوب

قلب المحب على المحبوب متعوب

الحب يوسف والمولوه يعقوب

الحب يوسف والمولوه يعقوب

The lover's heart is weary over the beloved.

The lover's heart is troubled by the beloved

Love is Yusuf, and the love-stricken one is Yaqub.

Love is Joseph and the obsessed is Jacob

ضميره فيه جمر النار متقد

ضميره فيه جمر النار متقد

وعقله للهوى والشوق منهوب

وعقله للهوى والشوق منهوب

Within his inner self, the fire's embers are ablaze.

His conscience is aflame with burning embers

And his mind is plundered by passion and longing.

And his reason is plundered by passion and yearning

وقائل قال لي ما الحب قلت له

وقائل قال لي ما الحب قلت له

والصبر وا لوعني للوجد مغلوب

والصبر وا لوعني للوجد مغلوب

And someone said to me, "What is love?" I said to him:

And someone asked me, "What is love?" I said to him:

And patience—alas, I am tormented—is overcome by yearning.

"Patience and calmness in the face of ardor are overpowered"

يا سائلي عن معاني الحب كن حذارا

يا سائلي عن معاني الحب كن حذارا

الحب عذب ولكن فيه تعذيب

الحب عذب ولكن فيه تعذيب

O you who ask me about the meanings of love, be wary.

O you who ask about the meanings of love, beware

Love is sweet, and yet within it lies torment.

For love is sweet but in it lies torment