لا أَظلِمُ اللَيلَ وَلا أَدَّعي

لا أَظلِمُ اللَيلَ وَلا أَدَّعي

أَنَّ نُجومَ اللَيلِ لَيسَت تَغور

أَنَّ نُجومَ اللَيلِ لَيسَت تَغور

I do not wrong the night, nor do I claim

I do not blame the night, nor claim

That the stars of night do not set.

That the stars of the night do not set.

لَيلي كَما شاءَت فَإِن لَم تَزُر

لَيلي كَما شاءَت فَإِن لَم تَزُر

طالَ وَإِن زارَت فَلَيلي قَصير

طالَ وَإِن زارَت فَلَيلي قَصير

My night is as she wills: if she does not visit,

My night is as long or short as it wishes.

It grows long; and if she visits, my night is short.

If it is long when left alone, or short when it visits,

تُصَرِّفُ اللَيلَ عَلى حُكمِها

تُصَرِّفُ اللَيلَ عَلى حُكمِها

فَهوَ عَلى ما صَرَّفَتهُ قَدير

فَهوَ عَلى ما صَرَّفَتهُ قَدير

She directs the night according to her decree,

It governs itself as it wills.

So it can do whatever she bids it do.

It is capable of being as it makes itself.

يُطَوِّلُ اللَيلَ مُراعاتُهُ

يُطَوِّلُ اللَيلَ مُراعاتُهُ

فَكُلُّ أَمرٍ لا يُراعى قَصير

فَكُلُّ أَمرٍ لا يُراعى قَصير

Watching it prolongs the night,

Observing it lengthens the night.

For every matter not attended to is short.

Any matter not pondered is brief.