بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ لي مِنَ الحُبِّ راصِدٌ

بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ لي مِنَ الحُبِّ راصِدٌ

بِكَفَّيهِ سَيفٌ لِلهَوى وَسِنانُ

بِكَفَّيهِ سَيفٌ لِلهَوى وَسِنانُ

On every road, a watcher from love lies in wait for me;

With love's ambush at every path for me

On every path, a watcher from Love lies in wait,

in his two hands are a sword and a spearpoint for passion.

His two hands sword and fangs for passion's fight

Holding within his hands Passion's sword and spear.

فَما لِيَ عَنهُ مِن مَفَرٍّ وَإِنَّني

فَما لِيَ عَنهُ مِن مَفَرٍّ وَإِنَّني

لَأَجبُنَ عَنهُ وَالمُحِبُّ جَبانُ

لَأَجبُنَ عَنهُ وَالمُحِبُّ جَبانُ

So I have no escape from him, and indeed I

No escape for me from it though indeed

I have no place to flee, no refuge from him,

shrink from him in fear—and the lover is a coward.

I cower from it for the lover is a coward wight

I cower before him, for the lover is a coward.

فَقَد صِرتُ بَينَ البابِ وَالدارِ لَيسَ لي

فَقَد صِرتُ بَينَ البابِ وَالدارِ لَيسَ لي

خَلاصٌ وَلا لي إِن خَرَجتُ أَمانُ

خَلاصٌ وَلا لي إِن خَرَجتُ أَمانُ

So now I am between the door and the house; I have no

Between the door and house I've come to be

I have become trapped between the door and the dwelling,

release, nor safety if I go out.

No safety, nor security if I take flight

With no deliverance there, nor safety should I leave.