عَلى كُلِّ خَيرٍ مانِعٌ وَبِحُسنِهِ

عَلى كُلِّ خَيرٍ مانِعٌ وَبِحُسنِهِ

يَرِقُّ وَيَجفو رِقبَةً لِلمَراقِبِ

يَرِقُّ وَيَجفو رِقبَةً لِلمَراقِبِ

Every good thing has a barrier; and through his beauty

There's an obstacle to every good, though it be fair,

He grows tender, yet is aloof for fear of the watcher.

And a watcher's neck is softened and bent.

فَيَمنَعُ وَردَ الروضِ شَوكٌ مُلاصِقٌ

فَيَمنَعُ وَردَ الروضِ شَوكٌ مُلاصِقٌ

وَمِن دونِ رَوضِ الخَدِّ شَوكُ العَقارِبِ

وَمِن دونِ رَوضِ الخَدِّ شَوكُ العَقارِبِ

So clinging thorns bar access to the garden's roses,

The rose's blossom is hindered by the thorns close by,

And before the cheek's garden stand the thorns of scorpions.

And without the cheek's garden are scorpions' thorns.