أَبى اللَهُ أَن تَبقى لِحَيٍّ بَشاشَةٌ

أَبى اللَهُ أَن تَبقى لِحَيٍّ بَشاشَةٌ

فَصَبراً عَلى ما شاءَهُ اللَهُ لي صَبرا

فَصَبراً عَلى ما شاءَهُ اللَهُ لي صَبرا

God has refused to let gladness endure for any living soul.

God willed that no living being should keep its joy,

So patience with what God has willed for me—patience.

So patience for what God has willed for me, patience.

رَأَيتُ غَزالاً يَرتَعي وَسطَ رَوضَةٍ

رَأَيتُ غَزالاً يَرتَعي وَسطَ رَوضَةٍ

فَقُلتُ أَرى لَيلى تَراءَت لَنا ظُهرا

فَقُلتُ أَرى لَيلى تَراءَت لَنا ظُهرا

I saw a gazelle grazing in the midst of a meadow,

I saw a gazelle grazing in the middle of a meadow,

and said: I see Layla—she has appeared to us at noon.

So I said, I see my Layla has appeared to us.

فَيا ظَبيُ كُل رَغداً هَنيئاً وَلا تَخَف

فَيا ظَبيُ كُل رَغداً هَنيئاً وَلا تَخَف

فَإِنَّكَ لي جارٌ وَلا تَرهَبِ الدَهرا

فَإِنَّكَ لي جارٌ وَلا تَرهَبِ الدَهرا

O gazelle, eat plentifully and with pleasure, and do not fear;

O gazelle, eat in comfort and without fear,

for you are a neighbor under my protection; do not dread fate.

For you are my neighbor, fear not fate.

وَعِندي لَكُم حِصنٌ حَصينٌ وَصارِمٌ

وَعِندي لَكُم حِصنٌ حَصينٌ وَصارِمٌ

حُسامٌ إِذا أَعمَلتُهُ أَحسَنَ الهَبرا

حُسامٌ إِذا أَعمَلتُهُ أَحسَنَ الهَبرا

And I have for you a well-fortified stronghold and a keen sword—

For you I have a strong and towering fortress,

a sharp blade that, when I wield it, excels at cleaving.

A sharp sword when I wield it excels at slashing.

فَما راعَني إِلّا وَذِئبٌ قَدِ اِنتَحى

فَما راعَني إِلّا وَذِئبٌ قَدِ اِنتَحى

فَأَعلَقَ في أَحشائِهِ النابَ وَالظُفرا

فَأَعلَقَ في أَحشائِهِ النابَ وَالظُفرا

Then, to my alarm, a wolf drew near,

I was not paying attention when a wolf snuck up,

and sank its fang and claw into the gazelle's entrails.

And sunk its fangs and claws into its belly.

فَبَوَّأتُ سَهمي في كَتومٍ غَمَزتُها

فَبَوَّأتُ سَهمي في كَتومٍ غَمَزتُها

فَخالَطَ سَهمي مُهجَةَ الذِئبِ وَالنَحرا

فَخالَطَ سَهمي مُهجَةَ الذِئبِ وَالنَحرا

Then I fitted my arrow to a silent bow and drew it,

I let loose my arrow into vitals I targeted,

and my arrow pierced the wolf's heartblood and throat.

And my arrow pierced the wolf’s brain and throat.

فَأَذهَبَ غَيظي قَتلُهُ وَشَفى جَوىً

فَأَذهَبَ غَيظي قَتلُهُ وَشَفى جَوىً

بِقَلبِيَ أَنَّ الحُرَّ قَد يُدرِكُ الوَترا

بِقَلبِيَ أَنَّ الحُرَّ قَد يُدرِكُ الوَترا

Killing it dispelled my rage, and what healed the burning grief

Killing it relieved my anger, and healed the torment

in my heart was that a noble man may yet exact revenge.

In my heart, that the free can still gain vengeance.