أَوَعيداً يا بَني جُشَمٍ

أَوَعيداً يا بَني جُشَمٍ

نَنقُضُ الأَطنابَ وَالحِلَلا

نَنقُضُ الأَطنابَ وَالحِلَلا

A threat, O sons of Jusham—

A warning, O sons of Jusham,

are we to dismantle tent-ropes and encampments?

We undo the bonds and fetters,

وَطِراداً في مُلَملَمَةٍ

وَطِراداً في مُلَملَمَةٍ

تَستَبيحُ الخَيلَ وَالإِبِلا

تَستَبيحُ الخَيلَ وَالإِبِلا

And mounted combat amid a massed host

And a chase in a fierce onslaught,

that plunders horses and camels?

Where horses and camels are made lawful prey,

وَنِزاعاً لا وُرودَ لَهُ

وَنِزاعاً لا وُرودَ لَهُ

يَعجُمُ الحَوذانَ وَالنَفَلا

يَعجُمُ الحَوذانَ وَالنَفَلا

And strife that never reaches water,

And a strife with no truce,

gnawing buttercups and clover?

That perplexes Hudhayn and Nafil,

سَتَراني مُسيَ ثالِثَةٍ

سَتَراني مُسيَ ثالِثَةٍ

لا أُضيفُ الهَمَّ إِن نَزَلا

لا أُضيفُ الهَمَّ إِن نَزَلا

You will see me at dusk on the third night;

You will see me leading a third raid,

I give worry no lodging, should it alight.

To which I will not add sorrow, if it descends,

وَخَفيري في غَياهِبِها

وَخَفيري في غَياهِبِها

سابِحٌ ضَمَّنتُهُ الأَمَلا

سابِحٌ ضَمَّنتُهُ الأَمَلا

And my protector in its depths of darkness

With my scout in its ravines,

is a swimming steed to whom I have entrusted my hope.

Whom I have inspired with hope,

طَرِبٌ لِلصَوتِ تَحسَبُهُ

طَرِبٌ لِلصَوتِ تَحسَبُهُ

عَرَبِيّاً يَعشَقُ الغَزَلا

عَرَبِيّاً يَعشَقُ الغَزَلا

Thrilled by the sound, you would take him for

A man of melodious voice you would think him

an Arab enamored of love poetry.

An Arab enamored with singing,

سَوفَ يَغشى أَرضَكُم أَسَدٌ

سَوفَ يَغشى أَرضَكُم أَسَدٌ

يَفرِسُ الأَيّامَ وَالدُوَلا

يَفرِسُ الأَيّامَ وَالدُوَلا

A lion will descend upon your land,

Soon a lion will pounce upon your land,

rending the days and the turns of fortune.

Who lies in wait for days and dynasties,

لا يَنامُ السَيفُ في يَدِهِ

لا يَنامُ السَيفُ في يَدِهِ

وَيُرى في بابِلٍ رَجِلا

وَيُرى في بابِلٍ رَجِلا

The sword does not sleep in his hand,

The sword in his hand does not sleep,

and in Babylon he is seen on foot.

And a man is seen in Babylon,

إِنَّما الدُنيا لِمُقتَدِرٍ

إِنَّما الدُنيا لِمُقتَدِرٍ

أَينَ أَلقى قَولَهُ فَعَلا

أَينَ أَلقى قَولَهُ فَعَلا

The world belongs only to one with power:

The world belongs only to the mighty,

wherever he utters his word, he acts.

Wherever he utters his word it becomes deed.