لا تهجُ يشكر يا زياد ولا تكُن

لا تهجُ يشكر يا زياد ولا تكُن

غَرَضاً وأنتَ عن الأذى في مَعزلِ

غَرَضاً وأنتَ عن الأذى في مَعزلِ

Do not satirize Yashkur, O Ziyād, nor become

Do not complain, O Ziyad, and do not

a target while you are safely out of harm’s way.

Be a target while you are protected from harm

وأعلم بأنهم إذا ما حصّلوا

وأعلم بأنهم إذا ما حصّلوا

خيرٌ وأكرمُ من أبيك الأعزل

خيرٌ وأكرمُ من أبيك الأعزل

And know that, when their worth is weighed,

Know that if they gain something

they are better and nobler than your unarmed father.

It is better and more generous than your unarmed father

لولا زعيمُ بني المعلّى لم نَبُت

لولا زعيمُ بني المعلّى لم نَبُت

حتى نُصبِّحكم بجيشٍ جحفل

حتى نُصبِّحكم بجيشٍ جحفل

But for the chief of Banū al-Muʿallā, we would not rest

If it were not for the Bani Al Ma'alla chief we would not

until we struck you at dawn with a mighty host.

Live to face you in the morning with a massive army

تمشي الضراءَ رجالهم وكأنهم

تمشي الضراءَ رجالهم وكأنهم

أسدُ العرين بكلّ عَضب مُنصَل

أسدُ العرين بكلّ عَضب مُنصَل

Their men advance under cover, as though they were

His men walk with adversity as if they were

lions of the lair, each with a keen sword unsheathed.

A fierce lion from its lair, teeth bared

فأحذر زيادُ ولا تكُن ذا تُدراءٍ

فأحذر زيادُ ولا تكُن ذا تُدراءٍ

عند الرجالِ ونُهزةً للخُتَّل

عند الرجالِ ونُهزةً للخُتَّل

So beware, Ziyād, and do not be defiant

So beware, O Ziyad, and do not be foolhardy

among men, or easy prey for the cunning.

Among men, and a mockery for the weak