وَلِلَّيلِand the night has أَنباءٌtidings وَلِلصُّبحِand the dawn has إِخوَةٌbrothers
وَلِلَّيلِ أَنباءٌ وَلِلصُّبحِ إِخوَةٌ
وَأَبناءُand the sons of لَيلىLayla مَعشَريmy people وَقيليand my chief
وَأَبناءُ لَيلى مَعشَري وَقيلي
And the night has tidings, and the dawn has brothers;
And Layla’s sons are my people and my chief.
إِذاwhen نَطَقواthey speak لَمnot يُسمَعِis heard اللَّغوُidle talk بَينَهُمamong them
إِذا نَطَقوا لَم يُسمَعِ اللَّغوُ بَينَهُم
وَإِنand if غَنِمواthey win spoils لَمnot يَفرَحواthey rejoice بِجَزيلِat abundance
وَإِن غَنِموا لَم يَفرَحوا بِجَزيلِ
When they speak, no idle talk is heard among them;
And if they win spoils, they do not rejoice at abundance.
وَماand not خُنتُI betrayed سَيفيmy sword فيin اللِّقاءِbattle وَماand not نَباit failed
وَما خُنتُ سَيفي في اللِّقاءِ وَما نَبا
عَلَيَّon me إِذاwhen ما(emphasis) سُدَّwas barred كُلُّevery سَبيلِpath
عَلَيَّ إِذا ما سُدَّ كُلُّ سَبيلِ
And I never betrayed my sword in battle, nor did it fail
Me when every path was barred.