كَبْرتُ والبِيضُ واللَّذاتُ مِن أرَبي

كَبْرتُ والبِيضُ واللَّذاتُ مِن أرَبي

حتَّى كأنِّي لمْ أَكْبَرْ وَلَمْ أَشِبِ

حتَّى كأنِّي لمْ أَكْبَرْ وَلَمْ أَشِبِ

I have grown old, yet fair women and pleasures remain my desire,

I grew older, my hair turned white, and pleasures left me,

so much so that it seems I have neither aged nor turned gray.

As if I had not grown old or turned grey.

لو لا التُّقى وجميلُ الصَّبرِ ما وَجَدتْ

لو لا التُّقى وجميلُ الصَّبرِ ما وَجَدتْ

منَّا الأوانسُ غيرَ اللَّهو واللَّعبِ

منَّا الأوانسُ غيرَ اللَّهو واللَّعبِ

Were it not for piety and graceful patience, nothing would be found

If not for piety and the beauty of patience,

by the lovely maidens in us but amusement and play.

The companions would not find in me anything but nonsense and play.

إذا لأرضيتُ أسبابَ الهَوى لصبىَ

إذا لأرضيتُ أسبابَ الهَوى لصبىَ

تجري بنا وبها في حَلْبّة الطّربِ

تجري بنا وبها في حَلْبّة الطّربِ

Then I would indulge the impulses of passion, for youthful longings

If I satisfy the causes of passion as a youth,

that carry us and her through the arena of delight.

It would carry me and them in the cycle of joy,

حتَّى يُقالُ بطالات فَتَنَّ فَتىً

حتَّى يُقالُ بطالات فَتَنَّ فَتىً

قد استَحَّلَّ أو اسْتحَلى دمَ العنبِ

قد استَحَّلَّ أو اسْتحَلى دمَ العنبِ

Until people say: idle pleasures have bewitched a youth

Until it is said, “The young man is tempted

who has deemed lawful—or found sweet—the blood of grapes.

As if he made the blood of grapes permissible or coveted it.”

حيثُ الكؤوس من الصَّهبآء يَصْحبها

حيثُ الكؤوس من الصَّهبآء يَصْحبها

وردُ الخدودِ ومآءُ الظَّلم والشَّنَبِ

وردُ الخدودِ ومآءُ الظَّلم والشَّنَبِ

Where cups of tawny wine are accompanied by

Where cups of wine are accompanied

roses of cheeks, and the moist gleam and cool sweetness of teeth.

By the redness of cheeks, water of darkness and mustache,

إزآء كلِ أناة الخَطْوِ بَهْكَنة

إزآء كلِ أناة الخَطْوِ بَهْكَنة

غِدٌ مفاصِلها مَمكورة القَصَبِ

غِدٌ مفاصِلها مَمكورة القَصَبِ

Opposite every slow-stepping, full-figured beauty,

Facing every slow gait of the swaying one

supple in her joints and rounded in her limbs.

Whose joints will be bent tomorrow like reeds.

تسقي ببَرد ثَناياها مَلاثمَهُ

تسقي ببَرد ثَناياها مَلاثمَهُ

ما أودعتنا حُمياها من اللَّهَبِ

ما أودعتنا حُمياها من اللَّهَبِ

With the coolness of her front teeth she gives his kissing lips a draught

She quenches the pain of her companion

of the flame her ardor has lodged within us.

With the ardour her fervor holds.

طابِ الهوى بالرِضِّى من قلب ذاك وذَا

طابِ الهوى بالرِضِّى من قلب ذاك وذَا

لولاَ اتفَّاقُ هوى الإِلْفين لَم يطلبِ

لولاَ اتفَّاقُ هوى الإِلْفين لَم يطلبِ

Love is sweet through consent from the hearts of that one and this.

Good is the passion of one satisfied at heart and this one too

Without agreement in the two lovers' desire, it would not be sought.

If it were not for the concordance of the passion of both.

ومَا المشيبُ وإِنْ راعَتكَ صِيغتُهُ

ومَا المشيبُ وإِنْ راعَتكَ صِيغتُهُ

بمانعٍ من وِصال الأُنَّس العُرُبِ

بمانعٍ من وِصال الأُنَّس العُرُبِ

Gray hair, though its appearance alarms you,

Gray hair, even if its form alarmed you,

is no barrier to union with companionable, loving women.

Cannot prevent the union of the intimate and well-mannered company.

في صاحبِ الشَّيبِ أخلاقٌ مُهذَّبةٌ

في صاحبِ الشَّيبِ أخلاقٌ مُهذَّبةٌ

من المروءَة والتجريبِ والأدَبِ

من المروءَة والتجريبِ والأدَبِ

In the gray-haired man are cultivated virtues,

In the gray-haired are refined morals

of noble character, experience, and refinement.

Of manliness, experience, and discipline.

وذُو المشيبِ تَراه في تقى ونُهىً لآخِرةٍ

وذُو المشيبِ تَراه في تقى ونُهىً لآخِرةٍ

أرض ولو عاش بين الضعف والوصب

أرض ولو عاش بين الضعف والوصب

And the gray-haired man you see, pious and wise, intent on the hereafter,

The God-fearing gray-haired you see is in piety and prohibition for the Hereafter,

is more content, though he lives amid weakness and sickness.

Even if he lived amid weakness and senility.

لولا التزود من دنيا الآخرة

لولا التزود من دنيا الآخرة

ما كانَ في عَيشها لِلحُرَّ مِن أَرَبِ

ما كانَ في عَيشها لِلحُرَّ مِن أَرَبِ

Were it not for taking provisions from this world for the hereafter,

If not for provisioning from the Hereafter,

the noble man would have no desire for life in it.

The free person would have no joy in it.

وما اصْطحابُ بني هذا الزَّمانِ على

وما اصْطحابُ بني هذا الزَّمانِ على

غِش الضَّمائر الاَّ شرُّ مُصْطَحَبِ

غِش الضَّمائر الاَّ شرُّ مُصْطَحَبِ

And keeping company with the sons of this age, with

Accompanying the people of this time based on

deceit in their hearts, is but the worst of company.

Deceitful consciences is the worst company.

ولا يزَالُ الفتى الأَتْقىَ يُقال لهُ

ولا يزَالُ الفتى الأَتْقىَ يُقال لهُ

مال على الظّلم أو عرض من الكذبِ

مال على الظّلم أو عرض من الكذبِ

And the most pious youth is forever told:

The most devout youth is still told,

that he inclined toward injustice, or put forward some falsehood.

“He leaned towards injustice,” or, “He presented some lies.”

ولا يزال كريم القوم محتملاً

ولا يزال كريم القوم محتملاً

دَماً ولا ذنب أو شيئاً بلا سببِ

دَماً ولا ذنب أو شيئاً بلا سببِ

And the noble man among his people is forever made to bear

The generous person of the people remains tolerant

bloodguilt despite no offense, or something without cause.

Of blood and no crime, or something without cause.

وقد يَرى الحرّ من نذل بليَّته

وقد يَرى الحرّ من نذل بليَّته

كما تكون كسوف الشمس بالذنبِ

كما تكون كسوف الشمس بالذنبِ

And a noble man may meet his affliction at a base man's hands,

The free person may see in the misery of the lowly

as the sun's eclipse is caused by the tail.

As the eclipse of the sun by the moon.

والعيْشُ أطيبهُ ما صحَّ مذهبُهُ

والعيْشُ أطيبهُ ما صحَّ مذهبُهُ

أو كان مطلبُه منِ حلٍّ مكتَسبِ

أو كان مطلبُه منِ حلٍّ مكتَسبِ

And the sweetest life is that whose course is sound,

The best life is that whose doctrine is sound

or whose livelihood is lawfully earned.

Or whose pursuit is through permitted means.

مالذةُ المتمادي في بطالتهِ

مالذةُ المتمادي في بطالتهِ

وإن تنعَّم إلاَّ لذُّة الجربِ

وإن تنعَّم إلاَّ لذُّة الجربِ

The pleasure of one who persists in his idleness,

Taking refuge in prolonged idleness,

even if he lives in luxury, is only a scabies-sufferer's pleasure.

Even if enjoying comfort, is only the joy of itchiness.

ومُتَّقي اللهِ مسروراً بسيرتهِ

ومُتَّقي اللهِ مسروراً بسيرتهِ

في شدة العيش يرجو حسن منقلبِ

في شدة العيش يرجو حسن منقلبِ

And one who fears God, glad in his conduct,

The God-fearing, pleased with his conduct

amid life's hardships hopes for a good final return.

Amidst hardship, hopes for a good change.

ويا مُريدَ الغنَىَ شمِّر إليه فلا

ويا مُريدَ الغنَىَ شمِّر إليه فلا

اثمٌ ولا عار إِن اجملت في الطَّلبِ

اثمٌ ولا عار إِن اجملت في الطَّلبِ

And O seeker of wealth, strive for it: there is no

O you who seek wealth, strive for it, there is no

sin or shame if you seek it with propriety.

Sin or shame if you gather it through seeking.

واحُلل ذُرى آلَ نَبهانٍ بني عُمَرٍ

واحُلل ذُرى آلَ نَبهانٍ بني عُمَرٍ

بني المعمَّر واسْترفِد أَبا العَرَبِ

بني المعمَّر واسْترفِد أَبا العَرَبِ

And settle on the heights of the house of Nabhan, the sons of 'Umar,

Ask the lineage of the Banū Nabhān, Banū ‘Umar,

the sons of al-Mu'ammar, and seek Abu al-'Arab's bounty.

The long-lived, and seek help from Abū Al-‘Arab.

تَلْقَ المواهبَ والنعَّمى تفيض بها

تَلْقَ المواهبَ والنعَّمى تفيض بها

يمين يعرب فيضَ العارض اللَّجبِ

يمين يعرب فيضَ العارض اللَّجبِ

You will find gifts and blessings pouring from

You will find gifts and bounties pouring forth

Ya'rub's right hand like the torrent of a thunderous raincloud,

From the open hand of Ya‘rub of abundant generosity.

في رَبع أمنٍ لَدىَ مْرعَى رفاهيةٍ

في رَبع أمنٍ لَدىَ مْرعَى رفاهيةٍ

عليه ظلٌ واندآءٌ من السّحُبِ

عليه ظلٌ واندآءٌ من السّحُبِ

in an abode of safety, beside a pasture of ease,

In a secure quarter, at a pasture of prosperity,

over which lie shade and dew from the clouds,

Shaded and called by the clouds.

من جودُ أَرْوَع تلقَى في محاسنهِ

من جودُ أَرْوَع تلقَى في محاسنهِ

لهُ مشابهَ من جَدٍ له وأبِ

لهُ مشابهَ من جَدٍ له وأبِ

from the bounty of a splendid man, in whose virtues you find

From the generosity of the most magnificent you will find in his virtues,

resemblances to his grandfather and father.

One similar to him in ancestry and father.

على الزهّادة آتِ كل مكرمةٍ

على الزهّادة آتِ كل مكرمةٍ

وفي التَّواضُع نهَّاض إلى الرّتبِ

وفي التَّواضُع نهَّاض إلى الرّتبِ

For all his asceticism, he performs every noble deed,

Bestow upon the ascetics every honor

and in humility he rises to high ranks.

And in humility, one prompt to the ranks.

وهو الذي إنْ دعاه لْلمُلِمِّ فلاَ

وهو الذي إنْ دعاه لْلمُلِمِّ فلاَ

يُؤذَى ومن يَسأَلِ المعروف لَم يَخبِ

يُؤذَى ومن يَسأَلِ المعروف لَم يَخبِ

And he is the one whose caller in calamity

He who if called to confrontation does not

is not harmed; whoever asks a kindness is not disappointed.

Harm, and whoever asks favor is not deprived.

إذا أبو العَرَبِ اْستخبرت شَيمَتهُ

إذا أبو العَرَبِ اْستخبرت شَيمَتهُ

وفي الرَّضى فعله أو سآئِر الغَضَبِ

وفي الرَّضى فعله أو سآئِر الغَضَبِ

If you inquire into Abu al-'Arab's character,

If, O Abū Al-‘Arab, you inquire about his traits

and his conduct in contentment or throughout anger,

And his actions whether pleased or angry.

ألفيتَ يَعربَ مطبوعاً على خُلُق

ألفيتَ يَعربَ مطبوعاً على خُلُق

أذكى من المِسك أو أصفَى منَ الذهبِ

أذكى من المِسك أو أصفَى منَ الذهبِ

you find Ya'rub naturally endowed with a character

You will find Ya‘rub naturally disposed

more fragrant than musk, or purer than gold.

To a wisdom sharper than musk or purer than gold.

يُمسي ويصبُح في ثوْبي حِجىً ونَدى

يُمسي ويصبُح في ثوْبي حِجىً ونَدى

مُوشَّحاً بصَلاحِ الدّين والحسَبِ

مُوشَّحاً بصَلاحِ الدّين والحسَبِ

Evening and morning find him in the two robes of wisdom and bounty,

He begins and ends his day in the garb of care and dew,

adorned with upright faith and ancestral honor.

Adorned with the rectitude of religion and lineage.

مَنْ كان أفعالُه حُسْنىَ وَمنطقُهُ

مَنْ كان أفعالُه حُسْنىَ وَمنطقُهُ

عدلاً كيعرب أدّى صحَّة النَسَبِ

عدلاً كيعرب أدّى صحَّة النَسَبِ

One whose deeds are good and whose speech

Whoever’s deeds are good and speech is

is just, like Ya'rub, proves the soundness of his lineage.

Just, like Ya‘rub fulfilled the legitimacy of ancestry.

ومَنْ يغبْ وسعى في آله ولدٌ

ومَنْ يغبْ وسعى في آله ولدٌ

كسعيه في العلى والدّين لم يغبِ

كسعيه في العلى والدّين لم يغبِ

And one who is gone, while a son within his house strives

Whoever is absent, striving for his family and children

as he strove for greatness and faith, is not gone.

As he strives for the heights and religion, is not absent.

هذا نجيب بني نبهان وارثه

هذا نجيب بني نبهان وارثه

أبو المعمرّ طبع السَّادة النُّجُبِ

أبو المعمرّ طبع السَّادة النُّجُبِ

Here is the noble scion of the sons of Nabhan, his heir:

This is Najīb bin Nabhān, his heir,

Abu al-Mu'ammar, with the nature of noble lords.

Abū Al-Mu‘ammar, of noble elite traits.

وسادة الازد في عيصِ العَتيك لهُ

وسادة الازد في عيصِ العَتيك لهُ

بيت على غير أوتادٍ بلا طَنَبِ

بيت على غير أوتادٍ بلا طَنَبِ

And among the lords of al-Azd, in al-'Atik's stock, he has

The chiefs of Azd in mighty ‘Atīk, theirs is

a house raised without stakes or tent-ropes.

A house without pegs or ropes.

بيتٌ حمته العتاقُ الجردُ عاديةً

بيتٌ حمته العتاقُ الجردُ عاديةً

بالدَّارعينَ كأُسْد الغابة الغُلُبِ

بالدَّارعينَ كأُسْد الغابة الغُلُبِ

A house protected by noble, sleek horses charging

A house protected by the bare veterans ‘Ādiyya

with armored men like the thick-necked lions of the forest.

With swords like lions of the dense jungle.

صيدٌ أشدِّاء لا تأبى نفوسُهمُ

صيدٌ أشدِّاء لا تأبى نفوسُهمُ

ورْدَ الردَّى بين أطراف القنا السُّلبِ

ورْدَ الردَّى بين أطراف القنا السُّلبِ

Proud, mighty men whose souls do not shrink from

Prey so fierce their souls refuse

approaching death's watering-place amid the points of slender spears.

To turn away from the battle, even when urged to flee.

غُلْبٌ مَساعيرُ في الهَيجا لباسُهم

غُلْبٌ مَساعيرُ في الهَيجا لباسُهم

مُلْسُ السَّوابغ تحتَ البَيْضِ واليلَبِ

مُلْسُ السَّوابغ تحتَ البَيْضِ واليلَبِ

Thick-necked kindlers of war, in battle they wear

Conquests, when in battle their attire

smooth, full-length mail beneath helmets and hide armor.

Is smooth mail under white garments and armor.

إذا غَدا لهمُ جيشٌ وقد قصَدُوا

إذا غَدا لهمُ جيشٌ وقد قصَدُوا

قَوماً تقدَّمهمْ جيشٌ من الرُّعُبِ

قَوماً تقدَّمهمْ جيشٌ من الرُّعُبِ

When their army marches forth, having set their sights on

When an army sets out for them and they have intended

a people, an army of terror precedes them.

For a people, preceded by an army of fear.

فهذه صِفةُ الأزد الذينَ هُمُ

فهذه صِفةُ الأزد الذينَ هُمُ

ملوك قَحطان أهل العِزّ والغَلَبِ

ملوك قَحطان أهل العِزّ والغَلَبِ

Such is the description of al-Azd, who are

So this is the description of the Azd, who

the kings of Qahtan, men of might and victory,

Are kings of Qahtan, people of honor and conquest.

من العتيكِ اليمانين الذينَ بِهمْ

من العتيكِ اليمانين الذينَ بِهمْ

تبَّوأ الأزدُ بيتُ العزِّ في العربِ

تبَّوأ الأزدُ بيتُ العزِّ في العربِ

from the Yemeni al-'Atik, through whom

From ‘Atīk the Yamanis, through whom

al-Azd occupied the house of glory among the Arabs.

Azd attained the house of honor among Arabs.

والأوسُ والخزرجُ الأنصارُ قد دَفعوا

والأوسُ والخزرجُ الأنصارُ قد دَفعوا

عن الرَّسولِ وآووْهُ لدَيَ الهَربِ

عن الرَّسولِ وآووْهُ لدَيَ الهَربِ

And al-Aws and al-Khazraj, the Helpers, defended

And Aus and Khazraj, the Ansar, warded off

the Messenger and sheltered him in flight.

From the Messenger and gave him refuge when he fled.

وجَاهدوا معهُ أهلَ الضَّلالِ معاً

وجَاهدوا معهُ أهلَ الضَّلالِ معاً

حتَّى أجابَ له من كانَ لم يُجِبِ

حتَّى أجابَ له من كانَ لم يُجِبِ

And they fought alongside him, together, against the people of error,

They fought with him against the people of misguidance together

until those who had not answered him responded.

Until He who had not answered responded to him.

فعَزَّ في الأرضُ دين اللهِ وانتَشرت

فعَزَّ في الأرضُ دين اللهِ وانتَشرت

أعلامُه وأتى بالمعجزِ العَجَبِ

أعلامُه وأتى بالمعجزِ العَجَبِ

Thus God's religion grew mighty on earth, and spread

So the religion of God became mighty in the land and

its banners; and he brought the wondrous miracle.

His banners spread and he brought the wondrous miracle.

وكان فَخرهم للأزدِ قاطبةً

وكان فَخرهم للأزدِ قاطبةً

يَنْساقُ من عقِبٍ منهمْ إِلى عَقِبِ

يَنْساقُ من عقِبٍ منهمْ إِلى عَقِبِ

And their glory belonged to all al-Azd,

And their pride in Azd altogether

passing from one generation of them to the next,

Flowed from a descendant of theirs to a descendant.

حتَّى انْتهي لبَني كهلانَ مجدُهُم

حتَّى انْتهي لبَني كهلانَ مجدُهُم

وفخرُهم فهمُ للأزد كالقُطُبِ

وفخرُهم فهمُ للأزد كالقُطُبِ

until their splendor came to the sons of Kahlan,

Until their glory and pride ended with

and their pride; they are like the pivot of al-Azd.

The Banū Kahlān, for Azd they are like the celestial pole.

يَهنيكَ يعربُ أخبارٌ مُؤثرةٌ

يَهنيكَ يعربُ أخبارٌ مُؤثرةٌ

محفوظةٌ لك في الأَلْبابِ والكُتبِ

محفوظةٌ لك في الأَلْبابِ والكُتبِ

May stirring accounts gladden you, Ya'rub,

Congratulations O Ya‘rub, excellent accounts are

preserved for you in minds and books.

Preserved for you in minds and books.

فيهنَّ أحسنُ مذكورٍ ومُسْتَمعٍ

فيهنَّ أحسنُ مذكورٍ ومُسْتَمعٍ

بينَ المشاهدِ من شعْر ومن خُطَبِ

بينَ المشاهدِ من شعْر ومن خُطَبِ

In them is the finest thing recalled and heard

In them is the best of what is mentioned and heard

at gatherings, in poetry and orations.

Among witnesses, whether poetry or speeches.

وابْلُغْ أبا العَرَبِ المأمولَ شاملةً

وابْلُغْ أبا العَرَبِ المأمولَ شاملةً

لك السَّعادةُ بينَ الأهلِ والنَسَبِ

لك السَّعادةُ بينَ الأهلِ والنَسَبِ

And attain your hopes, Abu al-'Arab, with all-embracing

Convey, O Abū Al-‘Arab, these all-encompassing well-wishes,

good fortune for you among family and kin.

May you have good fortune among family and lineage.

وعِش طويلاً مُلقىً كلَّ فآئدةٍ

وعِش طويلاً مُلقىً كلَّ فآئدةٍ

من الزَّمانِ مُوقَىًّ حادثَ النُّوبِ

من الزَّمانِ مُوقَىًّ حادثَ النُّوبِ

And live long, granted every benefit

Live long, encountering every benefit

from time, protected from the onset of misfortunes.

From time, protected from afflictions.

وكلَّ عام يعودُ العيدُ في نِعمٍ

وكلَّ عام يعودُ العيدُ في نِعمٍ

منها نصيبُك موفورٌ بلا نَصَبِ

منها نصيبُك موفورٌ بلا نَصَبِ

And every year may the festival return amid blessings,

And may every year the feast returns with blessings,

your share of them abundant, without toil.

Your share in them abundant, without toil.

وابهَجْ بها من عَروسٍ في قلائِدها

وابهَجْ بها من عَروسٍ في قلائِدها

وفي مجاسِدِها تَبقَى مدى الحُقُبِ

وفي مجاسِدِها تَبقَى مدى الحُقُبِ

And delight in her—a bride adorned with necklaces—

And delight in them from a bride in her necklaces

and in her richly dyed robes, she endures through the ages.

And in her resting places she remains for ages.