نَجَوتُ وَنَفسي عِندَ لَيلى رَهينَةٌ

نَجَوتُ وَنَفسي عِندَ لَيلى رَهينَةٌ

وَقَد عَمَّني داجٍ مِنَ اللَيلِ دامِسُ

وَقَد عَمَّني داجٍ مِنَ اللَيلِ دامِسُ

I escaped, though my soul was held captive with Layla,

I escaped, while my soul remains hostage to Layla

I escaped, yet my soul remains a hostage with Layla, as a dark and gloomy night enveloped me.

While pitch-black darkness of night had enveloped me.

Enveloped in the dark night's pitch blackness

I plunged into the fray with a sharp, polished blade; for there is no good in a man who does not plunge into peril.

وَغامَستُ عَن نَفسي بِأَخلَقَ مَقصِلٍ

وَغامَستُ عَن نَفسي بِأَخلَقَ مَقصِلٍ

وَلا خَيرَ في نَفسِ اِمرِئٍ لا تَغامِسُ

وَلا خَيرَ في نَفسِ اِمرِئٍ لا تَغامِسُ

And I plunged into battle in my own defense with a worn, cleaving sword;

I concealed my soul with the traits of a wise man

Had Layla but seen me in the early morning, with my companions and the battle lines I engaged,

And there is no good in a man's soul that will not plunge into battle.

No good is in a soul that does not conceal

Then Layla would have wept for me and wailed, and she would not have touched the robe I was wearing.

وَلَو أَنَّ لَيلى اَبصَرَتني غُدوَةً

وَلَو أَنَّ لَيلى اَبصَرَتني غُدوَةً

وَصَحبِيَ وَالصَفَ الَّذينَ أُمارِسُ

وَصَحبِيَ وَالصَفَ الَّذينَ أُمارِسُ

And had Layla seen me at daybreak,

If Layla were to see me in the morning

And my companions and the ranks I was fighting,

And my companions and the ranks with whom I socialize

إِذَن لَبَكَت لَيلى عَلَيَّ وَأَعوَلَت

إِذَن لَبَكَت لَيلى عَلَيَّ وَأَعوَلَت

وَما نالَتِ الثَوبَ الَّذي أَنا لا بِسُ

وَما نالَتِ الثَوبَ الَّذي أَنا لا بِسُ

Then Layla would have wept over me and wailed,

Layla would then weep for me and wail

And she would not have reached the garment I was wearing.

And not attain the garment that I wear