هَل وَقفَةٌ بِجَنوبِ القاعِ تَجمَعُنا

هَل وَقفَةٌ بِجَنوبِ القاعِ تَجمَعُنا

أَم لا مَقيلَ بِهَذا الصَّفصَفِ السَبِخِ

أَم لا مَقيلَ بِهَذا الصَّفصَفِ السَبِخِ

Will a halt in the south of the plain bring us together,

Is there a stop at the south of the land that gathers us?

or is there no midday resting place on this flat, saline plain?

Or is there no rest in this barren wilderness?

فاِرْتَدْ لَنا مَنزِلاً يا سَعدُ نَثْوِ بِهِ

فاِرْتَدْ لَنا مَنزِلاً يا سَعدُ نَثْوِ بِهِ

فَلَيسَ لي بِالحمى مِن صاحِبٍ وَأَخٍ

فَلَيسَ لي بِالحمى مِن صاحِبٍ وَأَخٍ

So seek a lodging for us, O Saʿd, where we may stay,

Turn back for us a dwelling, O Saad, and pitch it there,

for I have neither companion nor brother in the protected pasture.

For I have no companion nor brother in this restricted area.

إِن تَقْرِ عَلوَةُ نِضوَينا بِهِ فأَنِخْ

إِن تَقْرِ عَلوَةُ نِضوَينا بِهِ فأَنِخْ

وَإِن أَبَتْ ذاكَ فاترُكْهُ وَلا تُنِخِ

وَإِن أَبَتْ ذاكَ فاترُكْهُ وَلا تُنِخِ

If ʿAlwa offers hospitality to our two weary camels there, make them kneel;

If the lofty dunes allow our settling there, then pitch it,

and if she refuses that, leave it and do not make them kneel.

And if that refuses us, then leave it be, and do not pitch.