إِنّا اِهتَجَرنا لِلناسِ إِذ فَطِنوا

إِنّا اِهتَجَرنا لِلناسِ إِذ فَطِنوا

وَبَينَنا حينَ نَلتَقي حَسَنُ

وَبَينَنا حينَ نَلتَقي حَسَنُ

Indeed, we shunned one another for people's sake when they caught on,

We parted from people when they grew aware,

We feigned estrangement when the people grew wise,

And when we meet, all is well between us.

Yet sweet is the time we happen to meet.

Yet fair is our bond whenever we meet.

نُدافِعُ الأَمرَ وَهوَ مُقتَبِلٌ

نُدافِعُ الأَمرَ وَهوَ مُقتَبِلٌ

فَشَبَّ حَتّى عَلَيهِ قَد مَرَنوا

فَشَبَّ حَتّى عَلَيهِ قَد مَرَنوا

We were fending off the affair while it was still young;

We dispute the matter though it draws near,

We fought off the passion when it was but young,

Then it grew, until they had become accustomed to it.

Until with age, to it they're inured.

But it grew till they all became used to its flame.

فَلَيسَ تَقذى عَينٌ مُعايِنَةٌ

فَلَيسَ تَقذى عَينٌ مُعايِنَةٌ

لَهُ وَما إِن تَمُجُّهُ أُذُنُ

لَهُ وَما إِن تَمُجُّهُ أُذُنُ

So no eye is irritated when looking

No eye profits from such beholding,

No gazing eye is pained by the sight,

At it, nor does any ear spit it out.

Nor ear from hearing his calumny.

Nor does any ear reject what it hears.

وَيحُ ثَقيفٍ ماذا يَضُرُّهُمُ

وَيحُ ثَقيفٍ ماذا يَضُرُّهُمُ

إِن كانَ لي في دِيارِهِم سَكَنُ

إِن كانَ لي في دِيارِهِم سَكَنُ

Alas for Thaqif! What harm does it do them

Woe to Thaqif! What harms it cause them

Woe to Thaqif! What harm comes to them,

If I have a beloved in their dwellings?

If among their abodes I make my home?

If I find in their dwellings a haven of peace?

أَكثَرُ ما بَينَنا الحَديثُ فَإِن

أَكثَرُ ما بَينَنا الحَديثُ فَإِن

زِدنا فَزيدوا وَما لِذا ثَمَنُ

زِدنا فَزيدوا وَما لِذا ثَمَنُ

Most of what passes between us is talk; so if

Most of our talk increases, so if

The most that passes between us is talk;

We add more, then you add more—this costs nothing.

We add, add they, though it has no price.

If we did more, then do your worst—but this has no price.