هَلّا سَأَلت وَرَيبُ الدَهرِ ذُو غِيَرٍ

هَلّا سَأَلت وَرَيبُ الدَهرِ ذُو غِيَرٍ

أَن كيفَ صَفَقَتُنا ذُهلَ بنَ شَيبانا

أَن كيفَ صَفَقَتُنا ذُهلَ بنَ شَيبانا

Why did you not ask—time's misfortunes bring reversals—

Should I not ask how time's vicissitudes

How our clash with Dhuhl son of Shayban went?

Have made our fortunes change, and brought dismay?

صَدُّوا عَن الماءِ يَسقُونَ ذا كَلَم

صَدُّوا عَن الماءِ يَسقُونَ ذا كَلَم

وَنَحنُ نَسقي عَلى الأَحساءِ كَلمانا

وَنَحنُ نَسقي عَلى الأَحساءِ كَلمانا

They turned away from the water, giving a wounded man drink,

They, from the water debarred, give drink to thirst,

And we give our wounded drink at the sandy waterholes.

While we must water on Al-Ahsa's sand our beasts.

في كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِن الحَيَّينِ أُبَّهَةٌ

في كُلِّ حَيٍّ مِن الحَيَّينِ أُبَّهَةٌ

وَنَحنُ أَكثَرُ مَغبوطاً وَجَذلانا

وَنَحنُ أَكثَرُ مَغبوطاً وَجَذلانا

Each of the two tribes has its splendor,

In every quarter are men puffed with pride,

And we are more enviable and more joyful.

While we are most abased and driven forth as prey.

أَما بَنو الحِصنِ إِذ شالَت نَعامَتُهُم

أَما بَنو الحِصنِ إِذ شالَت نَعامَتُهُم

فَيَخرُجُ المَرءُ مِن ثَوبَيهِ عُريانا

فَيَخرُجُ المَرءُ مِن ثَوبَيهِ عُريانا

As for the sons of al-Hisn, when their ostrich took flight,

When Banu Al-Hisn lost their riding-camels, look,

Then a man comes out of his two garments naked.

Men must go naked of their robes today.

أَما الرِبابُ فَوَلَّونا ظُهورَهُمُ

أَما الرِبابُ فَوَلَّونا ظُهورَهُمُ

وَأَجزَرونا أَبا سَلمى وَسُفيانا

وَأَجزَرونا أَبا سَلمى وَسُفيانا

As for al-Ribab, they turned their backs to us,

Abu Salma, Sufyan - when the lutes were silenced

And left Abu Salma and Sufyan for us to slaughter.

And turned against us - we were left with no one.