إنْ كنت يوماً مُعيني عند نازلةٍ

إنْ كنت يوماً مُعيني عند نازلةٍ

فاليوم إني بين الظّفْرِ والنّابِ

فاليوم إني بين الظّفْرِ والنّابِ

If ever you are to be my helper in calamity,

If I was once your ally in adversity,

Then today I am indeed between claw and fang.

Today I waver between conquest and defeat.

ما زلتُ أملكُ أسلابَ الملوكِ الى

ما زلتُ أملكُ أسلابَ الملوكِ الى

أن مُلِّكَتْ سوقُه الأقوام أسلابي

أن مُلِّكَتْ سوقُه الأقوام أسلابي

I had always possessed the spoils of kings, until

I once held the riches of kings in my grasp

The peoples' commoners were granted my own spoils.

Until their markets made my riches their spoils.

وكم فتًى بات محرابَ الوَغى فغدَا

وكم فتًى بات محرابَ الوَغى فغدَا

بغارةِ اللصِّ محروباً بمحرابِ

بغارةِ اللصِّ محروباً بمحرابِ

And how many a youth was battle's champion by night, then by morning was

How many a lad has spent the night guarding against strife

Despoiled by a thief's raid in a prayer niche!

Only to face the ravages of a thief come morning.

قالوا الثوابَ عن الأثوابِ قلتُ لهم

قالوا الثوابَ عن الأثوابِ قلتُ لهم

خُذوا ثوابي وردّوني لأثوابي

خُذوا ثوابي وردّوني لأثوابي

They said, 'Reward in place of garments!' I told them:

They spoke of reward beyond raiment. I said:

'Take my reward, and restore me to my garments.'

Take my reward and return my raiment to me.

وا ضيعةَ العَضْبِ لا جفنٌ يُصانُ به

وا ضيعةَ العَضْبِ لا جفنٌ يُصانُ به

وأيّ جفنٍ لماضي الحدّ قِرْضابِ

وأيّ جفنٍ لماضي الحدّ قِرْضابِ

Alas for the wasted sharp sword: no scabbard is protected by it!

Beware the rage of the wrathful, no eyelid protects against it.

And what scabbard is there for a keen-edged, cleaving blade?

What eyelid can resist the onslaught of biting swords?

وقد دعوتُك والأسماعُ مصغيةٌ

وقد دعوتُك والأسماعُ مصغيةٌ

الى استماعِ جوابٍ منك جوّابِ

الى استماعِ جوابٍ منك جوّابِ

And I have called upon you, while ears listen intently,

I called upon you while ears listened closely

To hear from you a reply that travels far.

To hear your eloquent response.

وسوف أكسوكَ من نسجِ الثنا حُلَلاً

وسوف أكسوكَ من نسجِ الثنا حُلَلاً

مطرّزاتِ بتصنيعٍ وآدابِ

مطرّزاتِ بتصنيعٍ وآدابِ

And I shall clothe you in robes woven of praise,

I will adorn you in robes woven from praise

Embroidered with artistry and literary grace.

Embroidered with refinement and grace.

فجُدْ بها عِمّةً كالتاجِ باهيةً

فجُدْ بها عِمّةً كالتاجِ باهيةً

ودعْ سواكَ لإحرامٍ وجلبابِ

ودعْ سواكَ لإحرامٍ وجلبابِ

So grant, in return for them, a splendid turban like a crown,

Wear them like a splendid crown

And leave others to a pilgrim's wrap and a cloak.

And leave plain garb and cloaks behind.

وهذه قسمةٌ بالحقّ ناطقةٌ

وهذه قسمةٌ بالحقّ ناطقةٌ

روسٌ لروسٍ وأذنابٌ لأذنابِ

روسٌ لروسٍ وأذنابٌ لأذنابِ

And this is an apportionment that proclaims justice:

This is a fair distribution by right:

Heads for heads, and tails for tails.

Heads to heads and tails to tails.

كم واصل الدهر منْ همّ وأوصله

كم واصل الدهر منْ همّ وأوصله

وكم فتًى من بَني الجبّابِ جبّابِ

وكم فتًى من بَني الجبّابِ جبّابِ

How many a sorrow has Time prolonged and delivered!

How many a care has time connected and separated!

And how many a youth of Banu al-Jabbab is a robe-maker!

How many a noble youth lies in the dust!