1. The spears of the enemies fall short of your protection,
And in their sharpness, they seek to bring you down.

2. Every man who has no covenant with you,
Is checked against his will and is opposed.

3. None has glory who takes other than you as refuge,
Were he guarded by both settled Arabs and nomads.

4. Who will convey from me to ‘Uqail and his people,
Though the abode is distant and the journey far?

5. Gently, O Banū Ka‘b, wake up and reconsider!
Your slaughter will surely be set aflame.

6. And before the hovering army swoops down,
With its wings unleashing sparks at its edges,

7. So its auxiliary hosts uncover their blade tips,
And with it rise up ravines as others descend,

8. Whereby the misguided people will suffer,
And a people lost in misguidance will perish.

9. Beware the lion, lest internal strife rouse him against you,
And the protected become exposed and unstable.

10. Whoever provokes the wolf will meet his violent death,
If escape from it does not save him.

11. I swear if I alert you to war for a moment,
And resolve guides you towards the prince,

12. You will wake to a bitter cup imposed upon you,
In which intoxication and wine linger.

13. It was drunk beforehand by ‘Awf ibn ‘Āmir
On a morning when oozing blood called for it.

14. At the hands of his father, not your father,
It departed while in it disgrace and diminishment.

15. Does the prince’s clemency upon you deceive you,
His forgiveness, patience and dignity towards you?

16. Were it not for honoring the covenant, the homes
Of some peoples would become desolate ruins.

17. But preserving the covenant is intrinsic to him,
In it he is singled out among the kings.

18. So leave blindness, ignorance and muddied confusion,
And embark upon a path illuminated by beacons of guidance!

19. And provoke him not with punishment against you,
For the terms of those who oppose the most high are short.

20.
If his steeds greet you one ill-omened morning,

21. With neighing, and the stallions of ‘Ajam are stirred,
You will know that tyranny is ruinous for a man,

22. And that the prince whom you wrong is dominant.
That Abū al-Jarrāh among you and his people,

23. Are like those among the accursed Thamūd.
On a morning when he wielded the sword and it recoiled fruitless,

24. So the destruction he brought collapsed upon him.
That the path of the wrongdoers is your path,

25. And that Fate has a cup passed round with perdition.
Do not assume the prince’s sword with which

26. You were empowered and through which you rose is broken.
Nor that if you hurl yourselves into battle against him,

27. You will be saved from his hands as fugitives.
The only reasonable course is to submit to his rule,

28. For in submission there is no shame.
And resume your former state, all together his subjects,

29. That you may gain some favor and have your rights restored.
Who is like him, who wards off your enemies,

30. And fears your injuries, protects you, and is zealous?
Who pastures you, even were fresh blood

31. To be spilled by the swords in waves?
Who gives you gifts of horses caparisoned

32. With sequins, and heaps of wealth not subject to tithes?
Who pardons the offender, though if he wished, could destroy him,

33. Since no asylum would protect him from his vengeance.
So live, for as long as a star shines,

34. And night darkens or daybreak illuminates,
With you the noble elders of restraint,

35. Your exemplary sons who attained lofty heights.
Among them is no youth except a majestic hero,

36. Whose maturity is that of an old man, whom I do not see wavering.
They are roaring lions when battle calls,

37. But at gatherings, they are scholarly and refined.
Upon you peace unceasing, night and day,

38. Comes and goes for as long as the eras revolve.
Peace upon a youth who accepts your approval

39. And sees none but your praise since his waist-wrap was fastened.
Merciful kinship draws him close to you,

40. And the wombs of a people, if counted, are sanctuaries.