يا آخذي بِذنُوبِ الدهرِ بادرةً

يا آخذي بِذنُوبِ الدهرِ بادرةً

من عتبه لم أكُنْ منها على حذر

من عتبه لم أكُنْ منها على حذر

O you who blame me for Time’s sins with a sudden outburst

O you who hastily take the sins of time

of your reproach, against which I was not on my guard.

With complaint, though I was unaware

هيَ الليالي ولم تجهل عواقبَها

هيَ الليالي ولم تجهل عواقبَها

فانظر وأنت على حالٍ منَ النظر

فانظر وأنت على حالٍ منَ النظر

Such are the nights, and their consequences are not unknown to you.

It is the nights, though you know not their consequence

So consider, while you are in a position to reflect.

So look, while you are able to see

وقد صَفَوْتُ فَرِدْني ثُمَّ معذرةً

وقد صَفَوْتُ فَرِدْني ثُمَّ معذرةً

إليك من كَدَرِ الأيّامِ لا كَدَري

إليك من كَدَرِ الأيّامِ لا كَدَري

I have grown clear, so drink of me; then I offer an apology

I have been purified, so restore me, then pardon

to you for the days’ murkiness, not my own.

From the turbidity of days, I have no turbidity

واعلمْ بأنّ الليالي غيرُ آليةٍ

واعلمْ بأنّ الليالي غيرُ آليةٍ

حتى تُفَرِّقَ بين القوس والوَترِ

حتى تُفَرِّقَ بين القوس والوَترِ

And know that the nights will not relent

And know that the nights are not an implement

until they part the bow from its string.

To separate between the bow and bowstring