ماكُنتُ مُذ كُنتُ إِلّا طَوعَ خُلّاني

ماكُنتُ مُذ كُنتُ إِلّا طَوعَ خُلّاني

لَيسَت مُؤاخَذَةُ الإِخوانِ مِن شاني

لَيسَت مُؤاخَذَةُ الإِخوانِ مِن شاني

Ever since I came to be, I have been only at my friends' bidding.

I was not, since I was, but compliant to those who wronged me

Holding friends to account is not in my nature.

Reproaching brothers is not my business

يَجني الخَليلُ فَأَستَحلي جِنايَتَهُ

يَجني الخَليلُ فَأَستَحلي جِنايَتَهُ

حَتّى أَدُلُّ عَلى عَفوي وَإِحساني

حَتّى أَدُلُّ عَلى عَفوي وَإِحساني

My friend does wrong, and I find his wrongdoing sweet,

My friend reaps, so I overlook his misdeeds

So that I may give proof of my forgiveness and kindness.

Until I show my pardon and kindness

وَيُتبِعُ الذَنبَ ذَنباً حينَ يَعرِفُني

وَيُتبِعُ الذَنبَ ذَنباً حينَ يَعرِفُني

عَمداً وَأُتبِعُ غُفراناً بِغُفرانِ

عَمداً وَأُتبِعُ غُفراناً بِغُفرانِ

And he follows offense with offense when he knows me,

He follows a sin with a sin when he knows me

Deliberately; and I follow forgiveness with forgiveness.

Deliberately, and I follow forgiveness with forgiveness

يَجني عَلَيَّ وَأَحنو صافِحاً أَبَداً

يَجني عَلَيَّ وَأَحنو صافِحاً أَبَداً

لاشَيءَ أَحسَنُ مِن حانٍ عَلى جانِ

لاشَيءَ أَحسَنُ مِن حانٍ عَلى جانِ

He wrongs me, and I show tenderness, forever forgiving;

He wrongs me, yet I remain a hand-shaker forever

Nothing is finer than one tender toward a wrongdoer.

Nothing is better than a singing friend