يَلُمنَ الفَتى إِن زَلَّتِ النَعلُ زَلَّةً

يَلُمنَ الفَتى إِن زَلَّتِ النَعلُ زَلَّةً

وَهُنَّ عَلى رَيبِ المَنونِ خَواذِلُ

وَهُنَّ عَلى رَيبِ المَنونِ خَواذِلُ

They blame the young man if his sandal slips once,

The young man is blamed if his slipper slips

Yet they leave him unaided against the blows of death.

And they rebuke him for fearing death's certainty

يَقُلنَ حَياةٌ بَعدَ مَوتِكَ مُرَّةٌ

يَقُلنَ حَياةٌ بَعدَ مَوتِكَ مُرَّةٌ

وَهُنَّ إِذا قَفَّينَ عَنكَ ذَواهِلُ

وَهُنَّ إِذا قَفَّينَ عَنكَ ذَواهِلُ

They say, “Life after your death is bitter,”

They say, "Life after your death is bitter"

Yet once they turn their backs on you, they forget.

And they, when they cease to care for you, are fickle

مَتى تَأتِنا تَعدو بِسَرجِكَ لِقوَةٌ

مَتى تَأتِنا تَعدو بِسَرجِكَ لِقوَةٌ

صَبورٌ تَجَنَّبنا وَرَأسُكَ مائِلُ

صَبورٌ تَجَنَّبنا وَرَأسُكَ مائِلُ

Whenever an eagle-swift mare gallops to us with your saddle,

When will you come galloping with your saddlebags?

Enduring, shying away from us, with your head tilted aside,

Enduring, you avoided us though your head bowed

صَدَدتَ عَنِ الأَعداءِ يَومَ عُباعِبٍ

صَدَدتَ عَنِ الأَعداءِ يَومَ عُباعِبٍ

صُدودَ المَذاكي أَقرَعَتها المَساحِلُ

صُدودَ المَذاكي أَقرَعَتها المَساحِلُ

You have turned from the enemies on the day of ʿUbāʿib,

You warded off the enemies on the day of maze

As mature steeds shy back when their bits strike them.

Repelling the sharp blades that polished lances nicked