بَهاءُ لَيلٍ وَإِن جَنَّت حَنادِسُهُ

بَهاءُ لَيلٍ وَإِن جَنَّت حَنادِسُهُ

فَدَع نَهارَكَ وِدٌّ مِن بَهاليلا

فَدَع نَهارَكَ وِدٌّ مِن بَهاليلا

A night's splendor, though its deep darkness envelops it,

The splendor of the night, though its stars are veiled

is affection from noble men—so leave your daylight.

Leave your day for the love of dark nights

وَما شِمالي لِخِلٍّ بَل أُجَنِّبُهُ

وَما شِمالي لِخِلٍّ بَل أُجَنِّبُهُ

إِلى الجَنوبِ وَإِن سُقتُ الشَماليلا

إِلى الجَنوبِ وَإِن سُقتُ الشَماليلا

My left hand is not for a friend; rather, I guide him

My left hand is not for blame, rather I turn it

toward the south, even if I drive the swift she-camels.

Southward, even when I am tempted north

إِذا طَما لِيَ أَو لَم يَطمُ بَحرُ غِنىً

إِذا طَما لِيَ أَو لَم يَطمُ بَحرُ غِنىً

فَقَد وَجَدتُ بَني الدُنيا طَماليلا

فَقَد وَجَدتُ بَني الدُنيا طَماليلا

Whether a sea of wealth surges for me or does not,

Whether the sea of wealth floods me or not

I have indeed found the sons of this world to be wretches.

I have found life's highs and lows as my fate

هَل تَجعَلونَ عَلى أَيدٍ أَساوِرَها

هَل تَجعَلونَ عَلى أَيدٍ أَساوِرَها

أَو تَعقِدونَ عَلى هامٍ أَكاليلا

أَو تَعقِدونَ عَلى هامٍ أَكاليلا

Do you place their bracelets upon hands,

Would you put bracelets on arms not yours

or bind wreaths upon heads?

Or place crowns on heads not your own?

مَهلاً تَعالى لِتَحظى مِن تَجارِبِنا

مَهلاً تَعالى لِتَحظى مِن تَجارِبِنا

إِنَّ الحَياةَ عَلِمناها تَعاليلا

إِنَّ الحَياةَ عَلِمناها تَعاليلا

Wait—come to benefit from our experiences.

Wait, come closer to learn from my trials

Indeed, we have known life to be mere diversions.

For life has taught me, through its ups and downs