1. Words alone will not avail a man,
Unless he be sincere at heart one day,

2. He who ventures in a narrow defile,
A gorge with undercutting sides and narrow,

3. Will be caught there by following enemies,
Evident in injustice towards us and wickedness,

4. It is no injustice for a man to retaliate
Against another’s wound in his painful agony,

5. He who once experienced our war
Will have no chance for a safe return,

6. His spirit urging him in spite of his chest,
His intense spirit flashing its lightning,

7. The slim knight sat there disabled,
With only his lance and polished ancient sword,

8. No healed man complains of the pain of wounds
When he has tasted wide space after constriction,

9. He has cast aside his bowstring
And cast his spears at the closely packed foe,

10. To right and left neighbours and relations
By a hero who cuts down the dear friend,

11. From a chief who did not respect
The sanctity of a neighbour nor a companion's claim,

12. He rejected his tribesmen and was merciless,
And we were struck by the Lord's ungrateful blow,

13. When we took the initiative in injustice
He objected and sought satisfaction for utter wrong,

14. We set up his lance in its holder,
And sent away chastity from every dandy,

15. And we maltreated him openly, burning
With a blow like the burning of flaming fire,

16. On a day when no woman hides her face,
And the souls of the tribe pour forth at their collars,

17. We are not the likes of you on the day of battle,
Nor on the day of rights in their sanctuaries,

18. You have seen some mark of our thrusting -
Take it or leave it on the road!

19. If we are forsaken defeated today,
Tomorrow we will bear from them what we can,

20. Taghlib yearned for a wishful dream
Which for them is far off as the nests of the sandgrouse,