لا تَفخَرَنَّ مَعاشِرٌ بِقَديمِها

لا تَفخَرَنَّ مَعاشِرٌ بِقَديمِها

فَليَنسِبَنَّ كُلابُها وَنُباجُها

فَليَنسِبَنَّ كُلابُها وَنُباجُها

Let no peoples boast of their ancient glory;

Let no communities boast of their ancient past;

then let their dogs—and their barking—claim pedigree.

So let their boor and loudmouth proclaim their lineage.

وَالخَيلُ إِن مَزَعَت بِفُرسانِ الوَغى

وَالخَيلُ إِن مَزَعَت بِفُرسانِ الوَغى

فَلتَرجِعَنَّ إِلى الثَرى أَثباجُها

فَلتَرجِعَنَّ إِلى الثَرى أَثباجُها

And when the horses race off bearing warriors of battle,

And if the horses race with the horsemen of battle,

their backs shall surely return to the dust.

Then their backs shall surely return to dust.

وَإِذا البُجادُ أَتى الفَتاةَ بِدِفئِها

وَإِذا البُجادُ أَتى الفَتاةَ بِدِفئِها

وَخِبائِها فَكَأَنَّهُ ديباجُها

وَخِبائِها فَكَأَنَّهُ ديباجُها

And when coarse wool affords a maiden warmth,

And if coarse striped cloth gives the maiden warmth

and a tent, it is as though it were her brocade.

And a tent, it is as though it were her brocade.

كَم نالَ أَطيَبَ مَطعَمٍ هِلباجَةٌ

كَم نالَ أَطيَبَ مَطعَمٍ هِلباجَةٌ

أَشِرٌ وَأَعوَزَ حُرَّةً هِلباجُها

أَشِرٌ وَأَعوَزَ حُرَّةً هِلباجُها

How often has a wanton glutton enjoyed the choicest fare,

Many a dolt has obtained the choicest food,

while a freeborn woman was left in want by her own gluttonous fool.

An insolent one, while a freeborn woman lacked her thickened milk.