1. I was sleepless because of lightning in Iraq, while my companions slept on stone.
Flashes as if the clouds in their bowers, when they burst amid deep dark clouds, were flower gardens.

2. As the lances of Balqā’ darted, baring their blades, slender-waisted like the dragon.
Suns that horses from every side brought to a meadow on the Euphrates, circling about a stallion.

3. If I and my tribe return to them, we will be like him who consults the oracle but gets no answer.
Would that I had for them in my breast sincere advice and affection that could be twisted to the throat.

4. Know, O thou that blamest destiny, that we were unruly before I gained power over the kingdom of the sons of Naṣr.
When we had taken the kingdom we were not to be coerced; we came to them from east and west as givers and receivers of good news.

5. We held back the son of him of the two horns and his comrades from marching through what lies between east and west.
Our enemies knew that we—the quick helpers whose houses command the mountain-passes—

6. Establish our dwellings in the abodes of guards; and if it be said they are but huts, yet we pass the night there satisfied.
We have a rugged hill, stubborn as Mālik, and a lion of Farā’, not to be awed by threats.

7. Their habit is not to cast out one of them whom fortune has cast down, or close their eyes to a brother.
They are the folk who do glorious deeds, and he whom the days have afflicted with grief turns to them for help.

8. Let him who counts them players reckon his account twice; let him not lie or remain in ignorance.
By our spears we saved him that called on us in deadly peril, when death was nearer to him than the tip of his finger-nail.

9. We rescued him from the spite of envious neighbours and from the hatred of those who bear malice. Neighbours, a folk fated to suffer vicissitudes and change.
If thou art neighbour to a man, dread bringing shame upon his honour; verily disgrace at the hands of neighbours is lasting infamy.

10. Repel from him what thou hast covenanted, cover his faults with what covering thou hast, and veil him with thy veil.
And, nephew of Juwwās, he strove a glorious striving, fulfilling for the Ḥayy the covenant of the Bakr.

11. By my life, the son of Ḍamrah gave his wealth freely to comrades from all regions different in language.
He gave hundreds of high-bred camels with their gear to men whose fires are not kept alive with wood or stones.

12. Verily my people brandish their spears between Falaǧ and Medina, warding off dog and Ṭayyi’ and驟�ālib and the lances of Bakr.
Verily my people's abodes are not confined between mountain-pass and valley.

13. We defended our folk by sharing their luck, sons of a fire that blazes aloft ready to burn.
Their countenances by it are illumined, long-necked warriors with piercing weapons and reddish hair.

14. Palfreys tall as palm-trees rough coated, cured by piercing and branding.
We train them to plunge into every deep pool, to charge, firm-limbed with sturdy legs never resting.

15. And a day when those who rub down their horses seem as though the gleaming warriors and their steeds were afire.
It is as though the spears of our horsemen in their charges were roaring flames in a well.

16. We were steadfast till he was respited, for days of woe are made bearable by patience.
We broke the head of Ibn Ṭayyi’ on the high ground, with a blade that had left its mark plain to see on many a neck.

17. We dyed the tunic of al-Khaṭīm with blood from a piercing thrust that laid bare his throat.
And O Ḥayy of Salīṭ, joyfully we spent the night, though without wine save what flowed from our wounds.

18. And on the night of the raid of Zayd's horse our steeds attained their wish and ample share of booty and vengeance.
We took vengeance on Sumayy and his comrades for the what befell us from him and the tribe of Watar.

19. The son of him of the two Momings quartered amidst our tents, his throat parched, his gullet burning.
We kept back the horses from gorging themselves on truffles and the steeds were restrained with us.

20. We held them until they submitted to our judgement and the camels' loads were brought to Sakhra.
You know Abū Fāris of the two mantles; on the day of Khifāf he marched forth alone across the desolate country.

21. We saw between ‘Amr and Mālik three hundred placaters after the tribe was divided, and the wrongdoer was surrendered and the long-haired man was wearied.
And when al-Sā’ūn saw an impassable cleft and the mountain-sides closed,

22. We took up the loads of the three hundred, so that our clan was left free of debt and obligation.
In a meadow whose plants when rubbed give forth the musk-pod's fragrance, and whose young camels returning in the evening are hard-driven.

23. And one of us brought down Māzin entire, and rescued it from slaughter and captivity.
With spears round ‘Aniṭ’s dwelling we encompassed Ṭarīf and his paternal uncle Ṭarīf son of ‘Amr.

24. And a freed-man whom we saved when the battle had cast him down in deadly peril, as a swimmer well-nigh drowned is saved by true help and sure.
We have a rugged hill, stubborn as Mālik, and a lion of Farā’ that may not be scared away by threats.

25. If Naḥshal stands by me I have no fear, except of God, of indigence.
A champion akin to the souls of Ṣhatān repels whatever comes against me from Ḥawrān or Egypt.

26. The tribes of Jumḥ know I am he, when I hurl people headlong and smite hoary heads.
With the hurling of terrible lion-like rocks that bring out the whelps from their lair and make the pregnant hyenas miscarry.

27. We defended Naḥshal, steadfast with me, whenever ghosts advanced from the direction of Ḥawrān or of Egypt.
The tribes all know that my throwing of javelins procures lamentation for the people and mourning for venerable elders.

28. With the hurling of formidable rocks that drive forth the broods from their burrows and make the pregnant spotted hyenas miscarry.