إِذا نَحنُ صَدَقناكَ

إِذا نَحنُ صَدَقناكَ

فَضَرَّ عِندَكَ الصِدقُ

فَضَرَّ عِندَكَ الصِدقُ

If we speak truthfully to you,

If we are truthful with you

And truth proves harmful in dealing with you,

Then truthfulness is harmful to you

طَلَبنا النَفعَ بِالباطِ

طَلَبنا النَفعَ بِالباطِ

لِ إِذ لَم يَنفَعِ الحَقُّ

لِ إِذ لَم يَنفَعِ الحَقُّ

We seek benefit through falsehood,

We sought benefit through falsehood

Since truth brings no benefit.

Since truth did not benefit

فَلَو قَدَّمَ صَبّاً في

فَلَو قَدَّمَ صَبّاً في

هَواهُ الصَبرُ وَالرِفقُ

هَواهُ الصَبرُ وَالرِفقُ

So if a lover were advanced in

Had patience and gentleness preceded

His love by patience and gentleness,

His passion, it would have sufficed

لَقُدِّمتُ عَلى الناسِ

لَقُدِّمتُ عَلى الناسِ

وَلَكِنَّ الهَوى رِزقُ

وَلَكِنَّ الهَوى رِزقُ

I would have been placed above all others;

I would have put people first

But love is an allotted gift.

But passion is sustenance