أُمَيمَ سَلِي عَني مَعَدّاً وَيَعْرُباً

أُمَيمَ سَلِي عَني مَعَدّاً وَيَعْرُباً

فَما أَنا عَمَّا يُعْقِبُ المَجْدَ ذاهِلُ

فَما أَنا عَمَّا يُعْقِبُ المَجْدَ ذاهِلُ

Umayma, ask Maʿadd and Yaʿrub about me;

My friend, ask me, energetic and eloquent,

For I am not heedless of what brings glory.

For I'm not oblivious to what follows glory.

هَلِ الطّارِقُ المُعْتَرُّ يَهْتِفُ في الدُّجَى

هَلِ الطّارِقُ المُعْتَرُّ يَهْتِفُ في الدُّجَى

بِمثْلي إِذا اسْتَغْوَتْهُ بِيدٌ مَجاهِلُ

بِمثْلي إِذا اسْتَغْوَتْهُ بِيدٌ مَجاهِلُ

Does the needy night visitor call out in the darkness

Does the bold attacker cry out in the darkness

For one like me, when trackless deserts have led him astray?

Like me, when seized by ignorant hands?

وَيَأْلَفُني وَهْوَالغَريبُ كَأَنَّهُ

وَيَأْلَفُني وَهْوَالغَريبُ كَأَنَّهُ

نَسِيبي وَسَيْفِي مِنْ دَمِ الكُومِ نَاهِلُ

نَسِيبي وَسَيْفِي مِنْ دَمِ الكُومِ نَاهِلُ

And he feels at home with me, though he is a stranger, as though he were

He grows intimate with me, though a stranger, as if

My kinsman, while my sword drinks the blood of high-humped camels.

He were my kinsman, while my sword drips with blood.

فَمِنْ أُنْسِهِ بي كادَ يَحْسَبُني الوَرى

فَمِنْ أُنْسِهِ بي كادَ يَحْسَبُني الوَرى

قَليلَ القِرَى وَالبَيْتُ بِالضَّيْفِ آهِلُ

قَليلَ القِرَى وَالبَيْتُ بِالضَّيْفِ آهِلُ

So, because he feels at ease with me, people almost deem me

Because of his intimacy with me, people almost think me

Sparing in hospitality, though the house is full of guests.

Lonely, though my house welcomes guests.