قُلsay لِمَنto the one whom أُدنيهِI draw him near جَهديwith all my effort
قُل لِمَن أُدنيهِ جَهدي
وَهوَwhile he يُقصينِيَkeeps me far away جَهدَهwith all his effort
وَهوَ يُقصينِيَ جَهدَه
Say to him whom I draw near with all my might,
Tell the one I make efforts for
while he keeps me far away with all his might,
While he distances himself from me
وَلِمَنand to the one whom تَرضاهُyou accept him مَولاas master
وَلِمَن تَرضاهُ مَولا
كَyour وَلاand not يَرضاكَhe accepts you عَبدَهas his slave
كَ وَلا يَرضاكَ عَبدَه
and to him whom you accept as your master,
And for the one whose master you wish to please
though he will not accept you as his slave:
While he does not wish to please you, his servant
أَمَليحٌis it fair? بِمَليحِfor one fair of الشَكلِform
أَمَليحٌ بِمَليحِ الشَكلِ
أَنthat يُخلَفَbe left unfulfilled وَعدَهhis promise
أَن يُخلَفَ وَعدَه
Is it fair for one so fair of form
Can a charming man, with charming looks
to have his promise go unkept?
Go back on his word?
أَمor جَميلٌbecoming بِجَميلِfor one beautiful of الوَجهِface
أَم جَميلٌ بِجَميلِ الوَجهِ
أَنto يَنقُضَbreak عَهدَهhis pledge
أَن يَنقُضَ عَهدَه
Or is it becoming for one so fair of face
Can a beautiful one, with a beautiful face
to break his pledge?
Break his vow?
ماwhat الَّذيthat which صَدَّكَturned you away عَنّيfrom me
ما الَّذي صَدَّكَ عَنّي
لَيتَwould that ماwhat صَدَّكَturned you away صَدَّهturned him away
لَيتَ ما صَدَّكَ صَدَّه
What is it that turned you away from me?
What has kept you from me?
Would that what turned you away would turn him away!
I wish whatever has kept you had itself been barred!