ياO مَنْyou who بأكْنافِin the recesses of فؤاديmy heart ربَعْhave dwelt
يا مَنْ بأكْنافِ فؤادي ربَعْ
قدْindeed ضاقَhas grown narrow بيfor me فيin حُبِّكَloving you المُتّسَعْthe wide expanse
قدْ ضاقَ بي في حُبِّكَ المُتّسَعْ
O you who have dwelt in the recesses of my heart,
In my love for you, even the wide expanse has grown too narrow for me.
ماnot فيكَin you ليfor me جَدْوىany benefit ولاand not أرْعَويI desist
ما فيكَ لي جَدْوى ولا أرْعَوي
شُحٌmiserliness مُطاعٌobeyed وهَوىًand passion مُتّبَعْfollowed
شُحٌ مُطاعٌ وهَوىً مُتّبَعْ
I gain nothing from you, yet I do not desist:
Miserliness is obeyed, and passion is followed.