رُوَيداً بَعضَ نَوحِكَ يا حَمامُ

رُوَيداً بَعضَ نَوحِكَ يا حَمامُ

أَجِدَّكَ لا تُنِيمُ وَلا تَنامُ

أَجِدَّكَ لا تُنِيمُ وَلا تَنامُ

Gently—less of your mourning, O dove.

Slow down some of your wailing, oh dove

Are you in earnest—you neither let others sleep nor sleep yourself?

I find you neither sleep nor rest

أَكُلَّ الدَهرِ تَذكاراً وَنَوحاً

أَكُلَّ الدَهرِ تَذكاراً وَنَوحاً

أَما فَنِيَ اِشتِياقكَ وَالغَرامُ

أَما فَنِيَ اِشتِياقكَ وَالغَرامُ

Must all your days be remembrance and lamentation?

Always remembering and lamenting

Have your longing and passion not yet ended?

Has your yearning and passion not ended?

هَتَفتَ فَهِجتَ لي شَوقاً فَقُل لِي

هَتَفتَ فَهِجتَ لي شَوقاً فَقُل لِي

حَمامٌ أَنتَ وَيحَكَ أَم حِمامُ

حَمامٌ أَنتَ وَيحَكَ أَم حِمامُ

You cried out and stirred longing in me; tell me:

You cried out to me in longing, so tell me

Are you a dove—woe to you—or death?

Are you a dove or a pigeon in love?

وَرِفقاً إِنَّ جارَكَ مِن غَرامٍ

وَرِفقاً إِنَّ جارَكَ مِن غَرامٍ

وَمِن قَلَقٍ لَيُؤلِمُهُ الكَلامُ

وَمِن قَلَقٍ لَيُؤلِمُهُ الكَلامُ

Be gentle: your neighbor, from ardent love

Gently, your neighbor is lovesick

And restlessness, finds even speech painful.

And anxious, pained by words

أَتَذكُرُ هالِكاً مِن عَهدِ نُوحٍ

أَتَذكُرُ هالِكاً مِن عَهدِ نُوحٍ

مَضى وَالدَهرُ حِينَئِذٍ غُلامُ

مَضى وَالدَهرُ حِينَئِذٍ غُلامُ

Do you remember one dead since Noah's age,

Do you remember one perished since Noah’s time

Who passed away when Time was still a boy?

When life then was but a lad

وَأَنسى خِلَّتِي وَالعَهدُ مِنّي

وَأَنسى خِلَّتِي وَالعَهدُ مِنّي

قَرِيبٌ لَم يَمُرَّ عَلَيهِ عامُ

قَرِيبٌ لَم يَمُرَّ عَلَيهِ عامُ

And shall I forget my beloved, though my time with her

And I forget my intimacy and pact with you

Is recent—not a year has passed?

Recent, not a year has passed

شُفيتَ وَلا شَقيتَ بِفَقدِ إِلفٍ

شُفيتَ وَلا شَقيتَ بِفَقدِ إِلفٍ

فَنِعمَ العَهدُ عَهدُكَ وَالذِمامُ

فَنِعمَ العَهدُ عَهدُكَ وَالذِمامُ

May you be healed, and never suffer the loss of a companion!

You recovered and didn’t suffer loss of a friend

How excellent are your fidelity and loyalty!

So excellent is your pact and fidelity

وَلَكِنّي أَراكَ ضَنينَ عَينٍ

وَلَكِنّي أَراكَ ضَنينَ عَينٍ

وَعَيني ماؤُها أَبَداً سَجامُ

وَعَيني ماؤُها أَبَداً سَجامُ

Yet I see you sparing of tears,

Yet I see you, niggardly eyed

While my eye's water streams forever.

While my eyes, their water forever flowing

رَعى اللَهُ الثُلَيمَ وَساكِنِيهِ

رَعى اللَهُ الثُلَيمَ وَساكِنِيهِ

وَأَجرَاعاً تَكنَّفَها الثلامُ

وَأَجرَاعاً تَكنَّفَها الثلامُ

May God guard al-Thulaym and its inhabitants,

May God watch over Thulayma and its dwellers

And sandy stretches surrounded by al-Thilam.

And plains enveloped in darkness

وَجادَ مِنَ الجَديدِ إِلى المُصَلّى

وَجادَ مِنَ الجَديدِ إِلى المُصَلّى

إِلى الحِصنَينِ وَكّافٌ رُكامُ

إِلى الحِصنَينِ وَكّافٌ رُكامُ

And may rain fall generously from al-Jadid to al-Musalla,

And the generous, from ancient to the mosque

And on to al-Hisnayn, from a piled-up, pouring cloud.

To the two fortresses, sufficient ruins

فَمَسرَحُ لَذّتي وَمَراحُ لَهوِي

فَمَسرَحُ لَذّتي وَمَراحُ لَهوِي

هُنالِكُمُ وَجِيرَتِيَ الكِرامُ

هُنالِكُمُ وَجِيرَتِيَ الكِرامُ

For the fields of my pleasure and the haunts of my play

There my playground of joy and pasture of passion

Are there, along with my noble neighbors.

And neighbors of nobility

وَمَلعَبُ كُلِّ غانِيَةٍ كَعابٍ

وَمَلعَبُ كُلِّ غانِيَةٍ كَعابٍ

مُخَدَّمَةٍ يَزينُ بِها الخِدامُ

مُخَدَّمَةٍ يَزينُ بِها الخِدامُ

And the playground of every lovely, budding-breasted maiden,

And playground of every delightful singing slave girl

Wearing anklets that draw their beauty from her.

Served by attendants who adorn her

يَراها القابِسُ العَجلانُ لَمحاً

يَراها القابِسُ العَجلانُ لَمحاً

فَيَبقى لا وَراءُ وَلا أَمامُ

فَيَبقى لا وَراءُ وَلا أَمامُ

A man hurrying to fetch fire catches a glimpse of her,

Seen by the swift-footed suddenly glimpsed

And stays, moving neither back nor forward.

Who then has neither behind nor ahead

وَتُرسِلُ مِن لَواحِظِها سِهاماً

وَتُرسِلُ مِن لَواحِظِها سِهاماً

فَتَمضي حَيثُ لا تَمضي السِهامُ

فَتَمضي حَيثُ لا تَمضي السِهامُ

She sends arrows from her sidelong glances,

And she sends from her glances arrows

And they fly where arrows cannot fly.

That go where no arrows go

مَضى ذاكَ الزَمانُ فَلَيتَ أَنّي

مَضى ذاكَ الزَمانُ فَلَيتَ أَنّي

صَدىً مِن قَبلِ مَمضاهُ وَهامُ

صَدىً مِن قَبلِ مَمضاهُ وَهامُ

That time has passed; would that I had been

That time has passed, would that I

Mortal remains and skulls before its passing.

Were an echo of it, lost and confused

وَأَسلَمَني الشَقاءُ إِلى زَمانٍ

وَأَسلَمَني الشَقاءُ إِلى زَمانٍ

مَصائِبُهُ كَما اِنهَلَّ الغَمامُ

مَصائِبُهُ كَما اِنهَلَّ الغَمامُ

Misery has surrendered me to an age

And misfortune left me in a time

Whose calamities fall like pouring rainclouds.

Whose afflictions poured like clouds

نَهارٌ لا أُسَرُّ بِهِ وَلَيلٌ

نَهارٌ لا أُسَرُّ بِهِ وَلَيلٌ

يَنامُ بِهِ السَليمُ وَلا أَنامُ

يَنامُ بِهِ السَليمُ وَلا أَنامُ

A day in which I find no joy, and a night

A day I don’t rejoice in, and a night

In which the snakebitten sleeps, while I do not.

In which the healthy sleep and I do not

تَلاعَبُ بِيَ خَواطِرُ مِن هُمُومٍ

تَلاعَبُ بِيَ خَواطِرُ مِن هُمُومٍ

كَما لَعِبَت بِشارِبها المُدامُ

كَما لَعِبَت بِشارِبها المُدامُ

Thoughts born of sorrows toy with me

Worries play with me

As wine toys with its drinker.

As wine played with its drinker

إِذا ما قُلتُ أَهجَعُ بَعضَ لَيلي

إِذا ما قُلتُ أَهجَعُ بَعضَ لَيلي

أَتَت ذِكَرٌ يُقَضُّ لَها المَنامُ

أَتَت ذِكَرٌ يُقَضُّ لَها المَنامُ

Whenever I say, "I shall sleep part of my night,"

When I say I’ll rest some of my night

Memories arrive, and sleep is shattered by them.

Memories come that rob all sleep

فَعَزماً صاحِبَي رَحلي وَإِلّا

فَعَزماً صاحِبَي رَحلي وَإِلّا

فَشاعَكُما وَخِلَّكُما السَلامُ

فَشاعَكُما وَخِلَّكُما السَلامُ

Resolve, then, you two companions of my saddle—or else

So resolve, my two companions, to travel, or else

May peace accompany you both and be your friend.

Farewell to you both, peace

فَكَم أُبلى بِصُحبَةِ كُلِّ نَذلٍ

فَكَم أُبلى بِصُحبَةِ كُلِّ نَذلٍ

خَسيسٍ ما لِصُحبَتِهِ دَوامُ

خَسيسٍ ما لِصُحبَتِهِ دَوامُ

How often am I afflicted with the company of some vile man,

How I have wasted time in the company of every lowlife

A wretch whose companionship never lasts!

Worthless, whose company is not lasting

أَقُولُ لَهُ فَيَحسِبُ ذاكَ هَزلاً

أَقُولُ لَهُ فَيَحسِبُ ذاكَ هَزلاً

وَبَعضُ القَولِ تَجهَلُهُ الطَغامُ

وَبَعضُ القَولِ تَجهَلُهُ الطَغامُ

I speak to him, and he takes it for a jest,

I speak to him but he thinks it jest

Yet some speech is beyond the understanding of the rabble.

And some of the rabble don’t understand the talk

لعَمرُكَ ما لَؤُمت أَباً وَلَكِن

لعَمرُكَ ما لَؤُمت أَباً وَلَكِن

أُناسٌ سَوَّدُوكَ هُمُ اللِّئامُ

أُناسٌ سَوَّدُوكَ هُمُ اللِّئامُ

By your life, you are not base in your father's line; rather,

By your life, I never cursed a father, but

Those who made you their chief are the base ones.

Wicked people made you so, the villains

فَمَسُّ الأَرضِ أَو أَلقى عَلِيّاً

فَمَسُّ الأَرضِ أَو أَلقى عَلِيّاً

عَلى رَحلي وَراحِلَتي حَرامُ

عَلى رَحلي وَراحِلَتي حَرامُ

So touching the ground, until I meet Ali,

To touch the ground or cast Ali down

Is forbidden to my saddle and my mount.

From my mount, is sacrilege

فَيَومَ أَرى عَلِيّاً لا أُبالي

فَيَومَ أَرى عَلِيّاً لا أُبالي

أَإِعوَجَّ اللِئامُ أَمِ اِستَقامُوا

أَإِعوَجَّ اللِئامُ أَمِ اِستَقامُوا

On the day I see Ali, I shall not care

The day I see Ali, I care not

Whether the base are crooked or upright.

If the wicked are crooked or set straight

أَغَرُّ الوَجهِ مَن يَصحَبهُ يصحَب

أَغَرُّ الوَجهِ مَن يَصحَبهُ يصحَب

جَواداً لا يُليمُ وَلا يُلامُ

جَواداً لا يُليمُ وَلا يُلامُ

Radiant of face: whoever accompanies him accompanies

Fairest of face is he who accompanies him, accompanies

A generous man who neither merits nor incurs blame.

A steed who neither wrongs nor is blamed

تُرَجِّيهِ العُفاةُ وَتَتَّقِيهِ

تُرَجِّيهِ العُفاةُ وَتَتَّقِيهِ

هِجانُ المالِ وَالجَيشُ اللُهامُ

هِجانُ المالِ وَالجَيشُ اللُهامُ

Supplicants place their hopes in him, while he is feared by

The brave flee him and the cowardly fear him

Purebred camels and the ravenous army.

As well as the army of tyrants

تَفُلُّ السَيفَ عَزمَتُهُ وَيُحيي

تَفُلُّ السَيفَ عَزمَتُهُ وَيُحيي

نَداهُ ما نَبا عَنهُ الغَمامُ

نَداهُ ما نَبا عَنهُ الغَمامُ

His resolve blunts the sword, and life is restored

His sword’s resolve is weakened and

By his bounty to what the raincloud has forsaken.

His call revives what clouds concealed

نَفُورٌ عَن مُداناةِ الدَنايا

نَفُورٌ عَن مُداناةِ الدَنايا

وَصَبٌّ بِالمَكارِمِ مُستَهامُ

وَصَبٌّ بِالمَكارِمِ مُستَهامُ

He shuns all approach to baseness,

Aversion to courting worldly things

And is a lover of noble deeds, utterly enamored.

And determination for all noble deeds

تَرى عِندَ المَديحِ لَهُ اِهتِزازاً

تَرى عِندَ المَديحِ لَهُ اِهتِزازاً

كَما يَهتَزُّ لِلضَربِ الحُسامُ

كَما يَهتَزُّ لِلضَربِ الحُسامُ

You see him quiver when he is praised,

You see, when praising him, a trembling

As a sharp sword quivers to strike.

Like the trembling of swords in blows

يُقِرُّ بِفَضلِهِ قارٍ وَبادٍ

يُقِرُّ بِفَضلِهِ قارٍ وَبادٍ

وَيَحسِدُ مِصرهُ يَمَنٌ وَشامُ

وَيَحسِدُ مِصرهُ يَمَنٌ وَشامُ

Settled folk and nomads acknowledge his merit,

The generous and the wasteful acknowledge his merit

And Yemen and Syria envy his city.

Yemen and Sham envy his Egypt

يَحُلُّ المَجدُ أَرضاً حَلَّ فيها

يَحُلُّ المَجدُ أَرضاً حَلَّ فيها

وَتُضرَبُ لِلعُلا فِيها الخِيامُ

وَتُضرَبُ لِلعُلا فِيها الخِيامُ

Glory settles in any land where he settles,

Glory settles a land in which he settled

And there the tents of high honor are pitched.

And for supremacy, tents are pitched

إِذا ما الحِلمُ عُدَّ فَما ثَبيرٌ

إِذا ما الحِلمُ عُدَّ فَما ثَبيرٌ

وَما حَضَنٌ لَدَيهِ وَما شَمامُ

وَما حَضَنٌ لَدَيهِ وَما شَمامُ

When forbearance is reckoned, what is Thabir,

When forbearance is counted, neither Thabit

What is Hadan beside him, and what is Shamam?

Nor Hudhayn are near him, nor Shammakh

يُقَصِّرُ حاتِمٌ في الجُودِ عَنهُ

يُقَصِّرُ حاتِمٌ في الجُودِ عَنهُ

وَكَعبٌ وَالبَرامِكَةُ الكِرامُ

وَكَعبٌ وَالبَرامِكَةُ الكِرامُ

Hatim falls short of him in generosity,

Hatim falls short of his generosity

As do Ka'b and the noble Barmakids.

And Ka’b, and the generous Banu Bariq

وَعَمرٌو في اللَقاءِ عَلَيهِ كَلٌّ

وَعَمرٌو في اللَقاءِ عَلَيهِ كَلٌّ

وَعَوفٌ في الوَفاءِ لَهُ غُلامُ

وَعَوفٌ في الوَفاءِ لَهُ غُلامُ

Amr, in battle, is but a burden on him,

And in battle, Amr is inept against him

And Awf, in fidelity, is a mere boy before him.

And Awf, in loyalty to him, is but a boy

لُكَيزِيُّ المَناسِبِ عامِرِيٌّ

لُكَيزِيُّ المَناسِبِ عامِرِيٌّ

مَلِيكٌ لِلمُلُوكِ بِهِ اِعتِصامُ

مَلِيكٌ لِلمُلُوكِ بِهِ اِعتِصامُ

Lukayzi in lineage, Amiri,

Luqayz of suitable traits, Amiri

A king in whom kings find protection.

A king for kings, their protection

سَليلُ عُلاً له مِن كُلِّ مَجدٍ

سَليلُ عُلاً له مِن كُلِّ مَجدٍ

ذُرى العَلياءِ مِنهُ وَالسَنامُ

ذُرى العَلياءِ مِنهُ وَالسَنامُ

A scion of nobility: his share of every glory

Descendant of sublime ancestry, of every glory

Is its heights of eminence and its crowning summit.

Branches of the lofty, and deeds

تَرى لِلخَيلِ في الهَيجاءِ عَنهُ

تَرى لِلخَيلِ في الهَيجاءِ عَنهُ

شُرُوداً مِثلَما شَرَدَ النَعامُ

شُرُوداً مِثلَما شَرَدَ النَعامُ

You see the horses in battle, away from him,

You see horses flee him in alarm

Fleeing as ostriches flee.

As ostriches fled in disorder

لَئِن نَفَرَت كُماةُ الحَربِ عَنهُ

لَئِن نَفَرَت كُماةُ الحَربِ عَنهُ

إِذاً فَلَها بِعَقوَتِهِ اِزدِحامُ

إِذاً فَلَها بِعَقوَتِهِ اِزدِحامُ

Even if the champions of war flee from him,

If the champions of war flee him

Then those horses crowd his courtyard.

Then in fleeing him, they crowd

نَماهُ إِلى ذُرى العَليا غَريرٌ

نَماهُ إِلى ذُرى العَليا غَريرٌ

وَإِبراهيمُ والِدُهُ الهُمامُ

وَإِبراهيمُ والِدُهُ الهُمامُ

Gharir raised him to the heights of eminence,

He was brought up to lofty ancestry, by al-Ghuraīr

And Ibrahim, his noble-hearted father.

And his father Ibrahim, the noble

وَإِن تَذكُر أَبا جَروانَ غُضَّت

وَإِن تَذكُر أَبا جَروانَ غُضَّت

لَهُ الأَبصارُ وَاِنقَطَعَ الكَلامُ

لَهُ الأَبصارُ وَاِنقَطَعَ الكَلامُ

And if you mention Abu Jarwan, lowered

And if you remember Abu Jarwan, lowered

Are eyes before him, and speech falls silent.

Would be sights, and speech interrupted

عَلِيٌّ أَنتَ هَذِي الشَمسُ نُوراً

عَلِيٌّ أَنتَ هَذِي الشَمسُ نُوراً

إِذا طَلَعَت وَذا الناسُ الظَلامُ

إِذا طَلَعَت وَذا الناسُ الظَلامُ

Ali, in radiance you are this sun

‘Ali, you are this sun, light

When it rises, and these people are darkness.

When it rises and people are darkness

وَأَنتَ أَجَلُّ حينَ يَنُوبُ خَطبٌ

وَأَنتَ أَجَلُّ حينَ يَنُوبُ خَطبٌ

وَأَعظَمُ أَن يُقاسَ بِكَ الأَنامُ

وَأَعظَمُ أَن يُقاسَ بِكَ الأَنامُ

When calamity strikes, you are too august

You are greatest when matters necessitate

And too great for mankind to be compared with you.

And too great for people to be compared

إِذا أَهلُ المَكارِمِ ضَيَّعُوها

إِذا أَهلُ المَكارِمِ ضَيَّعُوها

فَأَنتَ لِكُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ نِظامُ

فَأَنتَ لِكُلِّ مَكرُمَةٍ نِظامُ

If those devoted to noble deeds neglect them,

If the noble forsake nobility

You are the thread that holds every noble deed together.

Then for every nobility you are its order

عَداني أَن أَزُورَكَ حادِثاتٌ

عَداني أَن أَزُورَكَ حادِثاتٌ

إِذا ذُكِرَت تَذُوبُ لَها العِظامُ

إِذا ذُكِرَت تَذُوبُ لَها العِظامُ

Calamities kept me from visiting you,

Troubles have prevented me visiting you

At whose mention bones would melt.

Melting bones when mentioned

وَأَسبابٌ جَرَينَ وَكَيدُ أَمرٍ

وَأَسبابٌ جَرَينَ وَكَيدُ أَمرٍ

قُعُودي في النَدِىِّ لَهُ قِيامُ

قُعُودي في النَدِىِّ لَهُ قِيامُ

And circumstances that unfolded, and a plotted affair

And circumstances occurred, and scheming affairs

For which my sitting in the assembly counts as taking a stand.

My sitting peacefully established for them travelling

وَما تَركي زِيارَتَكَ اِختِياراً

وَما تَركي زِيارَتَكَ اِختِياراً

وَلَكِن طالَما مُنِعَ المَرامُ

وَلَكِن طالَما مُنِعَ المَرامُ

My forsaking your visit was not by choice,

And leaving visiting you was no choice

But often the desired goal is denied.

But desires have long been prevented

فَداكَ مِنَ الرَدى جَهمُ المُحَيّا

فَداكَ مِنَ الرَدى جَهمُ المُحَيّا

سَحابُ سَمائِهِ أَبَداً جَهامُ

سَحابُ سَمائِهِ أَبَداً جَهامُ

May the grim-faced man be your ransom from death,

May you be spared the ignorance of the ostentatious one

Whose sky's clouds are forever rainless.

Whose sky is always clouds

عَبُوسٌ إِذ يُقابِلُ وَجهَ حُرٍّ

عَبُوسٌ إِذ يُقابِلُ وَجهَ حُرٍّ

وَبَينَ المُومِساتِ لَهُ اِبتِسامُ

وَبَينَ المُومِساتِ لَهُ اِبتِسامُ

Scowling when he meets a freeborn man's face,

Scowling when facing a freeman’s face

But smiling among prostitutes.

And smiling amongst giggling girls

جَوادٌ حينَ يُلعَنُ وَالِداهُ

جَوادٌ حينَ يُلعَنُ وَالِداهُ

وَتُقرَعُ أَنفُهُ وَكَذا اللِئامُ

وَتُقرَعُ أَنفُهُ وَكَذا اللِئامُ

Generous when his parents are cursed

Generous when his parents are cursed

And his nose is struck—such are the base!

And his nose and the villains struck

يُعِزُّ مُهِينَهُ وَيُهينُ لُؤماً

يُعِزُّ مُهِينَهُ وَيُهينُ لُؤماً

مُكَرِّمهُ كَذا النُطَفُ الحَرامُ

مُكَرِّمهُ كَذا النُطَفُ الحَرامُ

He honors whoever humiliates him, and basely humiliates

Honoring his disgracer and disgracing a wretch

Whoever honors him—such are those born of illicit seed.

Thus ennobling the damned sperm

يَخافُ الضَيفَ يَقرِضُ حاجِبَيهِ

يَخافُ الضَيفَ يَقرِضُ حاجِبَيهِ

وَلا سِيما إِذا حَضَرَ الطَعامُ

وَلا سِيما إِذا حَضَرَ الطَعامُ

He fears the guest will gnaw his eyebrows,

Fearing a guest, frowning

Especially when the food arrives.

Especially when food is presented

ليَهنِكَ ما مَنَحتُكَ مِن ثَناءٍ

ليَهنِكَ ما مَنَحتُكَ مِن ثَناءٍ

بِهِ لا غَيرِهِ يَجِبُ القِيامُ

بِهِ لا غَيرِهِ يَجِبُ القِيامُ

May the praise I have granted you bring you joy,

My praise does not make you

For it, and nothing else, deserves a rising in respect.

Need other than it for obligation

وَلَستُ بِمادِحٍ سَفسافَ قَومٍ

وَلَستُ بِمادِحٍ سَفسافَ قَومٍ

وَإِن قالُوا لَهُ مالٌ رُكامُ

وَإِن قالُوا لَهُ مالٌ رُكامُ

I am no praiser of the dregs of a people,

And I don’t praise riffraff of people

Even if they say, "He has heaps of wealth."

Even if they possess heaped money

أَبى لي ذاكَ أَنّي مِن قُرومٍ

أَبى لي ذاكَ أَنّي مِن قُرومٍ

صَهاميمٍ تُسِيمُ وَلا تُسامُ

صَهاميمٍ تُسِيمُ وَلا تُسامُ

My descent from mighty chiefs forbids me that,

I was prevented that, for I am of judicious tribes

Stalwarts who humble others but are not humbled.

Who appoint but are not appointed

هَديرُ البُزلِ عِندَهُمُ كَشيشٌ

هَديرُ البُزلِ عِندَهُمُ كَشيشٌ

وَزَأرُ الأُسدِ عِندَهُمُ بُغامُ

وَزَأرُ الأُسدِ عِندَهُمُ بُغامُ

The roaring of mature camels is a hiss beside them,

For them the howling of hyenas is a priest

And the lions' roar is but a soft lowing.

And the lion’s roar is drums

وَقَولُهُمُ لَدى الإِعطاءِ فَذٌّ

وَقَولُهُمُ لَدى الإِعطاءِ فَذٌّ

وَضَربُهُمُ لَدى الهَيجا تُؤامُ

وَضَربُهُمُ لَدى الهَيجا تُؤامُ

Their word when giving is single,

Their talk of giving is empty pretense

But their blows in battle come in pairs.

And their war cry is discordant screams

وَنَفسٌ لا تُريعُ لِوردِ سُوءٍ

وَنَفسٌ لا تُريعُ لِوردِ سُوءٍ

وَلَو بَلَغَ الفَناءَ بِها الحيامُ

وَلَو بَلَغَ الفَناءَ بِها الحيامُ

And I have a soul that will not turn to a foul watering-place,

A soul not made fearful by the worst of times

Even if raging thirst brings it to destruction.

Even if annihilation comes with the protector

وَإِنّي لَلغَنيُّ وَإِن نَبا بِي

وَإِنّي لَلغَنيُّ وَإِن نَبا بِي

زَمانُ السُوءِ وَاِختُلِجَ السَوامُ

زَمانُ السُوءِ وَاِختُلِجَ السَوامُ

I am truly self-sufficient, though I am ill-treated by

And I am happy even if the time of evil

An evil age, and my grazing herds are snatched away.

Drove me out and adders writhed

وَأَنتَ أَديمُ سَعدِكَ مِن أُناسٍ

وَأَنتَ أَديمُ سَعدِكَ مِن أُناسٍ

أَخيرُهُمُ لِغَيرِهِمُ إِمامُ

أَخيرُهُمُ لِغَيرِهِمُ إِمامُ

And you—may your fortune endure—are of a people

While you have lasting good fortune, from people

Whose lowest-ranked man is a leader to others.

The best of them leader of others

وَلَولا ذاكَ عَن قُربى وَوُدٍّ

وَلَولا ذاكَ عَن قُربى وَوُدٍّ

لَكانَ عَنِ المَديحِ لِيَ اِحتِشامُ

لَكانَ عَنِ المَديحِ لِيَ اِحتِشامُ

Were this not born of kinship and affection,

And were it not for that, and love of kinship

I would have held back from offering praise.

I would have shunned praising out of modesty

فَطُل مَجداً وَزِد شَرَفاً وَفَخراً

فَطُل مَجداً وَزِد شَرَفاً وَفَخراً

عَلى شَرَفٍ وَفَخرٍ لا يُرامُ

عَلى شَرَفٍ وَفَخرٍ لا يُرامُ

So rise in glory, and grow in honor and pride,

So continue glorious, excelling in nobility and pride

Upon honor and pride already beyond reach.

Above nobility and pride that can’t be attained

وَعِش في نِعمَةٍ وَدَوامِ عِزٍّ

وَعِش في نِعمَةٍ وَدَوامِ عِزٍّ

بِمَنعَةِ مَن يُضيمُ وَلا يُضامُ

بِمَنعَةِ مَن يُضيمُ وَلا يُضامُ

And live in blessing and enduring might,

And live in bounty and lasting honor

With the invulnerability of one who oppresses but is not oppressed.

With the protection of one who wrongs but is not wronged