خليليّ عهدي بالليالي صوافيا

خليليّ عهدي بالليالي صوافيا

فما بالها أبدلن جيماً بصادها

فما بالها أبدلن جيماً بصادها

My two friends, I remember the nights as serene.

My friend, my pact with the nights was unfailing,

So what ails them, that they have substituted a jīm for their ṣād?

Why then have they swapped a 'j' for the 's' of their era?

خليليّ هل أبصرتما مثل أدمعي

خليليّ هل أبصرتما مثل أدمعي

نفدن وحقِّ الله قبل نفادها

نفدن وحقِّ الله قبل نفادها

My two friends, have you seen the like of my tears?

My friend, have you seen tears like mine ever flowing?

They ran out, by God’s truth, before the nights had ended.

They ran out, by God, before their source went dry.