أَرِقتُ وَآبَتني الهُمومُ الطَوارِقُ

أَرِقتُ وَآبَتني الهُمومُ الطَوارِقُ

وَلَم يَلقَ ما لاقَيتُ قَبلِيَ عاشِقُ

وَلَم يَلقَ ما لاقَيتُ قَبلِيَ عاشِقُ

I lay sleepless, and the cares that visit by night returned upon me;

I lay sleepless, and night-visiting cares returned to me.

I lay awake while crushing sorrows fell upon me,

no lover before me ever suffered what I have suffered.

And no lover before me has endured what I endured.

And found not what other lovers found before.

إِلَيكُم بَني لَأمٍ تَخُبُّ هِجانُها

إِلَيكُم بَني لَأمٍ تَخُبُّ هِجانُها

بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ صادَفَتهُ شَبارِقُ

بِكُلِّ طَريقٍ صادَفَتهُ شَبارِقُ

Toward you, sons of Laʾm, her noble she-camels hasten,

Toward you, sons of Laʾm, their purebred camels trot,

To you, sons of a grieving mother whose love is fervent

along every road where thornbushes stand in their way.

along every road they encounter, fleet-footed.

On every path bright dawns have shone.

لَكُم نائِلٌ غَمرٌ وَأَحلامُ سادَةٍ

لَكُم نائِلٌ غَمرٌ وَأَحلامُ سادَةٍ

وَأَلسِنَةٌ يَومَ الخِطابِ مسالِقُ

وَأَلسِنَةٌ يَومَ الخِطابِ مسالِقُ

Yours are unstinting bounty and the forbearance of lords,

Yours is abundant bounty and the sound judgment of lords,

For you await a torrent of glory and noble dreams

and tongues that cut keenly when it is time to speak.

and tongues, on the day of discourse, sharp and eloquent.

And tongues, on days of speech, most eloquent.

وَلَم يَدعُ داعٍ مِثلَكُم لِعَظيمَةٍ

وَلَم يَدعُ داعٍ مِثلَكُم لِعَظيمَةٍ

إِذا وَزَمَت بِالساعِدَينِ السَّوارِقُ

إِذا وَزَمَت بِالساعِدَينِ السَّوارِقُ

No caller has ever summoned men like you to a grave undertaking,

And no caller has summoned your like for a grave crisis,

No supplicant called upon the likes of you for greatness

when the life-stealing blades strike at forearms.

when fetters bite into both forearms.

When raiders gripped fast to both arms.