أَأَحمَدَ إِنَّ الحاسِدينَ حُشودُ

أَأَحمَدَ إِنَّ الحاسِدينَ حُشودُ

وَإِنَّ مَصابَ المُزنِ حَيثُ تُريدُ

وَإِنَّ مَصابَ المُزنِ حَيثُ تُريدُ

O Ahmad, the envious are legion,

Ahmad, indeed the envious are crowds

And the rainclouds pour down wherever you wish.

And indeed the stroke of grief is where you want

فَلا تَبعُدَنَ مِنّي قَريباً فَطالَما

فَلا تَبعُدَنَ مِنّي قَريباً فَطالَما

طُلِبتَ فَلَم تَبعُد وَأَنتَ بَعيدُ

طُلِبتَ فَلَم تَبعُد وَأَنتَ بَعيدُ

So do not be distant from me when near, for often

So do not distance yourself from me, ever close

You were sought and were not out of reach, though far away.

You were sought yet never distanced, while far away

أَصِخ تَستَمِع حُرَّ القَوافي فَإِنَّها

أَصِخ تَستَمِع حُرَّ القَوافي فَإِنَّها

كَواكِبُ إِلّا أَنَّهُنَّ سُعودُ

كَواكِبُ إِلّا أَنَّهُنَّ سُعودُ

Give ear and hear the choicest rhymes, for they are

Listen closely to the ecstasy of rhymes, for they

Stars, except that all are auspicious.

Are stars, except they are more blissful

وَلا تُمكِنِ الإِخلاقَ مِنها فَإِنَّما

وَلا تُمكِنِ الإِخلاقَ مِنها فَإِنَّما

يَلَذُّ لِباسُ البُردِ وَهُوَ جَديدُ

يَلَذُّ لِباسُ البُردِ وَهُوَ جَديدُ

And do not let wear take hold of them, for

And do not allow morals from it, for the only thing that gives pleasure

A mantle is delightful to wear only while new.

Is wearing a new coat in the cold