وَقالَ نِساءٌ لَسنَ لي بِنَواصِحِن

وَقالَ نِساءٌ لَسنَ لي بِنَواصِحِن

لِيَعلَمنَ ما أُخفي وَيَعلَمنَ ما أُبدي

لِيَعلَمنَ ما أُخفي وَيَعلَمنَ ما أُبدي

And women who were no true well-wishers to me said,

The women said, "We are not his confidantes,

To learn what I conceal and learn what I reveal:

So that we may know what he hides, and know what he reveals."

أَأَحبَبتُ لَيلى جِهدَ حُبِّكِ كُلَّهُ

أَأَحبَبتُ لَيلى جِهدَ حُبِّكِ كُلَّهُ

لِعَمرِ أَبي لَيلى وَزِدتَ عَلى الجَهدِ

لِعَمرِ أَبي لَيلى وَزِدتَ عَلى الجَهدِ

Have I loved Layla with all the strength of your love?

Have I loved Layla with all your love's toil?

By the life of Layla’s father, you have gone beyond the utmost effort.

By the life of Layla's father! You have gone beyond toil!

عَلى ذاكَ ما يَمحو لِيَ الذَنبَ عِندَها

عَلى ذاكَ ما يَمحو لِيَ الذَنبَ عِندَها

وَتَمحو دَواعي حُبِّها ذَنبَها عِندي

وَتَمحو دَواعي حُبِّها ذَنبَها عِندي

Even so, it does not erase my fault in her eyes,

In addition to that, what would erase my sin for her,

And the promptings of love for her erase her fault in my eyes.

And erase the motives of her love, her sin for me.

أَلا إِنَّ قُربَ الدارِ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ

أَلا إِنَّ قُربَ الدارِ لَيسَ بِنافِعٍ

وَقَلبُ الَّذي تَهواهُ مِنكَ عَلى البُعدِ

وَقَلبُ الَّذي تَهواهُ مِنكَ عَلى البُعدِ

Indeed, the nearness of the dwelling is of no use,

Lo! The nearness of the abode is of no use,

While the heart of the one you love is far from you.

And the heart that desires you is far from you.