مرَّ القطيعُ بأرض طاب منهلُها

مرَّ القطيعُ بأرض طاب منهلُها

وعُشبها، فاستقى من مائها، ورَعَى

وعُشبها، فاستقى من مائها، ورَعَى

The flock passed through a land whose watering place was good,

The flock passed by a land of fresh water and grass,

And whose grass was good; it drank from its water and grazed.

So they drank from its water and grazed,

فصاح راعيهِ: هيَّا، يا قطيع، بنا

فصاح راعيهِ: هيَّا، يا قطيع، بنا

نفلتْ من اللصِّ، إن اللصَّ قد طلعا

نفلتْ من اللصِّ، إن اللصَّ قد طلعا

Then its shepherd cried, "Come, flock, let us

Their shepherd called: Come, O flock, let's go!

Escape the thief, for the thief has already appeared!"

We've escaped from the thief, for the thief has appeared.

فقالَ كبشٌ له: ما الفرق بينكما؟

فقالَ كبشٌ له: ما الفرق بينكما؟

كلاكما يبتغي من لحمنا شِبَعا

كلاكما يبتغي من لحمنا شِبَعا

A ram then said to him, "What is the difference between you two?

A ram said to him: What's the difference between you two?

Both of you seek to sate yourselves on our flesh.

You both seek to satiate on our flesh.

دعنا له، وانج إن أحببتَ منفردًا

دعنا له، وانج إن أحببتَ منفردًا

فلستَ أكثرَ زهدًا منه أو ورعا

فلستَ أكثرَ زهدًا منه أو ورعا

Leave us to him, and escape alone if you wish;

Leave us to him, and flee alone if you wish,

For you are no more abstemious or pious than he.

You are no more ascetic or devout than him.

نِعْم الفِرارُ الذي أقبلتَ تَنْشُدُه

نِعْم الفِرارُ الذي أقبلتَ تَنْشُدُه

لو كان ينقذِنا منه ومنك معًا!

لو كان ينقذِنا منه ومنك معًا!

Fine indeed would be the escape you have come to seek,

How excellent the escape you yearn for would be,

If it saved us from both him and you!"

If only it saved us from him and you together!