فَدَيتُ مَن مَرَّ بِنا مُسرِعاً

فَدَيتُ مَن مَرَّ بِنا مُسرِعاً

يَسعى إِلى الديرِ بِأَسفارِه

يَسعى إِلى الديرِ بِأَسفارِه

May I be a ransom for him who hurried past us,

I sacrificed for one who passed us hastily

hastening to the monastery with his books.

Hurrying to the monastery with his travels

خَدَمتُ رَبَّ الدَيرِ مِن أَجلِهِ

خَدَمتُ رَبَّ الدَيرِ مِن أَجلِهِ

حَتّى كَأَنّي بَعضُ أَحبارِه

حَتّى كَأَنّي بَعضُ أَحبارِه

I served the master of the monastery for his sake,

I served the Lord of the monastery for his sake

until I seemed to be one of its priests.

As if I were one of its monks

حَذَّرَني النارَ وَلَم يَدرِ ما

حَذَّرَني النارَ وَلَم يَدرِ ما

في القَلبِ وَالأَحشاءِ مِن نارِه

في القَلبِ وَالأَحشاءِ مِن نارِه

He warned me of the Fire, yet knew not what

He warned me of the hellfire, not knowing what

of his own fire lay in my heart and entrails.

Was in my heart and gut of its fire

حَيَّرَني تَفتيرُ أَجفانِهِ

حَيَّرَني تَفتيرُ أَجفانِهِ

وَحَلَّ عَقدي عَقدُ زُنّارِه

وَحَلَّ عَقدي عَقدُ زُنّارِه

The languor of his eyelids bewildered me,

The batting of his eyelids confused me

and the knot of his girdle untied my own knot.

And undid myknot the knotting of his belt