أَبْطَا الرَّسُولُ فَظِلْتُ أَنْتَظِرُ

أَبْطَا الرَّسُولُ فَظِلْتُ أَنْتَظِرُ

لا النّوْمُ يأْخُذُني ولا السّهَرُ

لا النّوْمُ يأْخُذُني ولا السّهَرُ

The messenger was delayed, so I kept waiting.

The messenger departed, so I waited

Neither sleep nor sleeplessness takes hold of me.

Neither sleep takes me nor wakefulness

رَدَّ الجوابَ بِكُلِّ مُعْضِلَةٍ

رَدَّ الجوابَ بِكُلِّ مُعْضِلَةٍ

أَنْ شَمّروا للهَجْرِ واتّزَرُوا

أَنْ شَمّروا للهَجْرِ واتّزَرُوا

He brought back the reply, full of difficulties:

He answered every riddle

that they had tucked up their garments for parting and girded their loins.

Saying: Gird up for estrangement and don the garment

اُزْجُرْ فُؤَادَكَ أَنْ يَهِيمَ بِهِمْ

اُزْجُرْ فُؤَادَكَ أَنْ يَهِيمَ بِهِمْ

إِنَّ العَصَا لَكَ قَدْ أَرَى قَشَروا

إِنَّ العَصَا لَكَ قَدْ أَرَى قَشَروا

Restrain your heart from being enamored of them.

Restrain your heart from yearning after them

Indeed, I see they have already stripped the staff bare for you.

Verily the staff for you has shed its bark