لِيَبكِ اِبنَ لَيلى كُلُّ سارٍ لِنائِلٍ

لِيَبكِ اِبنَ لَيلى كُلُّ سارٍ لِنائِلٍ

عَلى عُرضِ لَيلٍ مُدلَهِمِّ الغَياطِلِ

عَلى عُرضِ لَيلٍ مُدلَهِمِّ الغَياطِلِ

Let every night traveler seeking bounty weep for the son of Layla,

Let every man who reaches his goal weep for Layla's son,

across the expanse of a night of dense, pitch-black gloom;

On a dark night whose darkness overwhelms the gazelles.

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ أَلقى يَدَيهِ لِخَوفِها

وَكُلُّ اِمرِئٍ أَلقى يَدَيهِ لِخَوفِها

فَأَصبَحَ مِنها مُستَجيرَ الحَبائِلِ

فَأَصبَحَ مِنها مُستَجيرَ الحَبائِلِ

and every man who cast down his hands in fear of it,

And every man who casts about in fear of it,

and so sought refuge from it in bonds.

Finds himself by morning seeking refuge in the mountain passes.

وَما طَرَقَ السُؤالُ مِثلَ اِبنِ غالِبٍ

وَما طَرَقَ السُؤالُ مِثلَ اِبنِ غالِبٍ

لِأَمرَينِ جَلّا مِن عِقابٍ وَنائِلِ

لِأَمرَينِ جَلّا مِن عِقابٍ وَنائِلِ

And never have petitioners called upon the like of the son of Ghalib

No questioner knocks more often than Ibn Ghalib

for two momentous matters: punishment and bounty.

On two matters: one of stern punishment, the other of rich reward.