جارَت بَنو بَكرٍ وَلَم يَعدِلوا

جارَت بَنو بَكرٍ وَلَم يَعدِلوا

وَالمَرءُ قَد يَعرِفُ قَصدَ الطَريق

وَالمَرءُ قَد يَعرِفُ قَصدَ الطَريق

The sons of Bakr acted unjustly and did not deal fairly.

The clan of Bakr acted unjustly,

And a man may know the straight course of the road.

Though a man may know the purpose of the path.

حَلَّت رِكابُ البَغيِ مِن وائِلٍ

حَلَّت رِكابُ البَغيِ مِن وائِلٍ

في رَهطِ جَسّاسٍ ثِقالِ الوُسوق

في رَهطِ جَسّاسٍ ثِقالِ الوُسوق

The camels of injustice from Wa'il have settled

The feet of aggressors dismounted at Wā’il,

among Jassas's clan, heavy with loads.

Among a band of spies with heavy burdens.

يا أَيُّها الجاني عَلى قَومِهِ

يا أَيُّها الجاني عَلى قَومِهِ

ما لَم يَكُن كانَ لَهُ بِالخَليق

ما لَم يَكُن كانَ لَهُ بِالخَليق

O you who inflict upon your people

O you who aggressed against your people,

what was never fitting for you—

With what had not occurred being attributed.

جِنايَةً لَم يَدرِ ما كُنهُها

جِنايَةً لَم يَدرِ ما كُنهُها

جانٍ وَلَم يُضحِ لَها بِالمُطيق

جانٍ وَلَم يُضحِ لَها بِالمُطيق

a crime whose true extent was unknown

An aggression which he knew not its essence,

to its perpetrator, who proved unable to bear it.

An aggressor who did not sacrifice for it with effort.

كَقاذِفَ يَوماً بِأَجرامِهِ

كَقاذِفَ يَوماً بِأَجرامِهِ

في هُوَّةٍ لَيسَ لَها مِن طَريق

في هُوَّةٍ لَيسَ لَها مِن طَريق

Like one who one day hurls his own body

Like one who hurls one day his crimes,

into a chasm with no way out.

Into an abyss that has no way out.

مَن شاءَ وَلّى النَفسَ في مَهمَةٍ

مَن شاءَ وَلّى النَفسَ في مَهمَةٍ

ضَنكٍ وَلَكِن مَن لَهُ بِالمَضيق

ضَنكٍ وَلَكِن مَن لَهُ بِالمَضيق

Whoever wishes may send himself into a wilderness

Whoever desires to risk his soul in hardship,

of hardship—but who will help him in its straits?

Of distress, but who for him is the exit?

إِنَّ رُكوبَ البَحرِ ما لَم يَكُن

إِنَّ رُكوبَ البَحرِ ما لَم يَكُن

ذا مَصدَرٍ مِن تَهلِكاتِ الغَريق

ذا مَصدَرٍ مِن تَهلِكاتِ الغَريق

Indeed, riding the sea, unless it has

That to ride the sea if it had not been,

a way back, is among the fatal perils of drowning.

With a source of destruction for the drowning.

لَيسَ لِمَن لَم يَعدُ في بَغيِهِ

لَيسَ لِمَن لَم يَعدُ في بَغيِهِ

عِدايَةَ تَخريقُ ريحٍ خَريق

عِدايَةَ تَخريقُ ريحٍ خَريق

He whose wrongdoing goes no farther

There is no escape for one whose aggression,

than the tearing assault of a violent wind

Tears apart the wind of the howling storm.

كَمَن تَعَدَّى بَغيُهُ قَومَهُ

كَمَن تَعَدَّى بَغيُهُ قَومَهُ

طارَ إِلى رَبِّ اللِواءِ الخَفوق

طارَ إِلى رَبِّ اللِواءِ الخَفوق

is not like one whose wrongdoing passed beyond his people

Unlike one whose aggression exceeded his people,

and flew at the lord of the fluttering banner.

So he flew to the Lord of the fluttering banner.

إِلى رَئيسِ الناسِ وَالمُرتَجى

إِلى رَئيسِ الناسِ وَالمُرتَجى

لِعُقدَةَ الشَدِّ وَرَتقِ الفُتوق

لِعُقدَةَ الشَدِّ وَرَتقِ الفُتوق

To the people's chief, the one looked to

To the Chief of mankind and the one hoped for,

to bind the knot firmly and mend the breaches.

For the knot of firmness and mending of severance.

مَن عَرَفَت يَومَ خَزازى لَهُ

مَن عَرَفَت يَومَ خَزازى لَهُ

عُلَيّا مَعَدٍّ عِندَ جَبذِ الوُثوق

عُلَيّا مَعَدٍّ عِندَ جَبذِ الوُثوق

He who was acknowledged on the day of Khazaza

One whom the day of Khazāz recognized for him,

by Ma'add's noblest, when the bonds were drawn tight.

Supporters at the pulling of firm pacts.

إِذا أَقبَلَت حِميَرُ في جَمعِها

إِذا أَقبَلَت حِميَرُ في جَمعِها

وَمَذحِجٌ كَالعارِضِ المُستَحيق

وَمَذحِجٌ كَالعارِضِ المُستَحيق

When Himyar advanced with its host,

When the donkeys approach in their gathering,

and Madhhij, like a sweeping cloudbank,

And Mudhij like the lofty torrent.

وَجَمعُ هَمدانَ لَهُم لَجبَةٌ

وَجَمعُ هَمدانَ لَهُم لَجبَةٌ

وَرايَةٌ تَهوي هُوِيَّ الأَنوق

وَرايَةٌ تَهوي هُوِيَّ الأَنوق

and Hamdan's host, with their clamor,

And the gathering of Hamdān, for them loftiness,

and a banner swooping with a vulture's plunge.

And a banner hovering with the swaying of necks.

فَقَلَّدَ الأَمرَ بَنو لَجبَةٌ

فَقَلَّدَ الأَمرَ بَنو لَجبَةٌ

مِنهُم رَئيساً كَالحُسامَ العَتيق

مِنهُم رَئيساً كَالحُسامَ العَتيق

So the sons of Lajba entrusted the command

So the Hamdān appointed as their leader,

to a leader from among them, like an ancient, keen sword,

One from among them like an ancient sword.

مُضطَلِعاً بِالأَمرِ يَسمو لَهُ

مُضطَلِعاً بِالأَمرِ يَسمو لَهُ

في يَومِ لا يَستاغُ حَلقٌ بَريق

في يَومِ لا يَستاغُ حَلقٌ بَريق

shouldering the task and rising to it,

Undertaking the command, elevated for him,

on a day when no throat could swallow saliva.

On a day when no throat risks a gulp.

ذاكَ وَقَد عَنَّ لَهُم عارِضٌ

ذاكَ وَقَد عَنَّ لَهُم عارِضٌ

كَجِنحِ لَيلٍ في سَماءِ البَروق

كَجِنحِ لَيلٍ في سَماءِ البَروق

That was when a cloudbank had loomed before them,

That one when a lofty aid backed him,

like night's wing in a sky of lightning.

Like the wings of night in a sky of lightning.

تَلمَعُ لَمعَ الطَيرِ راياتُهُ

تَلمَعُ لَمعَ الطَيرِ راياتُهُ

عَلى أَواذي لُجٍّ بَحرٍ عَميق

عَلى أَواذي لُجٍّ بَحرٍ عَميق

Its banners flashed like birds in flight

His banners gleam with the gleam of birds,

above the waves of a deep sea's vast expanse.

Over turbulent waves of a deep sea.

فَاِحتَلَّ أَوزارَهُمُ إِزرُهُ

فَاِحتَلَّ أَوزارَهُمُ إِزرُهُ

بِرَأيِ مَحمودٍ عَلَيهِم شَفيق

بِرَأيِ مَحمودٍ عَلَيهِم شَفيق

His strength then assumed their burdens

So their burdens were loaded by his burden,

with praiseworthy judgment, compassionate toward them.

With praiseworthy opinion gracious over them.

وَقَد عَلَتهُم هَفوَةً هَبوَةٌ

وَقَد عَلَتهُم هَفوَةً هَبوَةٌ

ذاتُ هَياجٍ كَلَهيبِ الحَريق

ذاتُ هَياجٍ كَلَهيبِ الحَريق

And a cloud of dust had swept over them in a gust,

And a gust of wind had overcome them,

raging like a fire's blaze.

Of stirring like the blaze of destruction.

فَاِنفَرَجَت عَن وَجهِهِ مُسفِراً

فَاِنفَرَجَت عَن وَجهِهِ مُسفِراً

مُنبَلِجاً مِثلِ اِنبِلاجِ الشُروق

مُنبَلِجاً مِثلِ اِنبِلاجِ الشُروق

Then it parted from his radiant face,

So from his face it uncovered blossoming,

bright as the breaking light of sunrise.

Radiant like the blossoming of dawn.

فَذاكَ لا يوفي بِهِ مِثلُهُ

فَذاكَ لا يوفي بِهِ مِثلُهُ

وَلَستَ تَلقى مِثلَهُ في فَريق

وَلَستَ تَلقى مِثلَهُ في فَريق

That man—no equal can measure up to him;

Thus he cannot be matched by his like,

and in no company will you meet his equal.

And you will not find his equal in a band.

قُل لِبَني ذُهلٍ يَرُدَّنَهُ

قُل لِبَني ذُهلٍ يَرُدَّنَهُ

أَو يَصبِروا لِلصَّيلَمِ الخَنفَقيق

أَو يَصبِروا لِلصَّيلَمِ الخَنفَقيق

Tell the sons of Dhuhl: let them return him,

Tell the clan of Dhūhl, they will return him,

or endure the crushing, furious calamity.

Or be patient for the piercing of the squeaking file.

فَقَد تَرَوَّيتُم وَما ذُقتُم

فَقَد تَرَوَّيتُم وَما ذُقتُم

تَوبيلَهُ فَاِعتَرِفوا بِالمَذوق

تَوبيلَهُ فَاِعتَرِفوا بِالمَذوق

For you have drunk your fill, yet have not tasted

For you have been slow, and not tasted,

its harmful aftermath; so acknowledge what you taste.

Its sharpness, so admit to the taste.

أَبلِغ بَني شَيبانَ عَنّا فَقَد

أَبلِغ بَني شَيبانَ عَنّا فَقَد

أَضرَمتُم نيرانَ حَربٍ عَقوق

أَضرَمتُم نيرانَ حَربٍ عَقوق

Tell the sons of Shayban on our behalf: indeed, you have

Inform the clan of Shaybān from us, for you have,

kindled the fires of a kinship-rending war.

Kindled fires of defiant war.

لا يُرقَأُ الدَهرَ لَها عاتِكٌ

لا يُرقَأُ الدَهرَ لَها عاتِكٌ

إِلّا عَلى أَنفاسِ نَجلا تَفوق

إِلّا عَلى أَنفاسِ نَجلا تَفوق

Its dark-red blood will never be staunched,

It will not be cooled for eternity except,

save over the breaths of a gaping, spurting wound.

By breaths of noble steeds that excel.

سَتَحمِلُ الراكِبَ مِنها عَلى

سَتَحمِلُ الراكِبَ مِنها عَلى

سيساءِ حِدبيرٍ مِنَ الشَرِّنوق

سيساءِ حِدبيرٍ مِنَ الشَرِّنوق

It will carry its rider upon

It will bear the rider over it,

the backbone of a gaunt she-camel of al-Sharnuq.

On the withers of Hudbair made from palm wood.

أَيُّ اِمرِئٍ ضَرَّجتُمُ ثَوبَهُ

أَيُّ اِمرِئٍ ضَرَّجتُمُ ثَوبَهُ

بِعاتِكٍ مِن دَمِهِ كَالخَلوق

بِعاتِكٍ مِن دَمِهِ كَالخَلوق

What man's robe have you spattered

O which man have you bloodied his garment,

with his deep-red blood, like saffron perfume?

With blood like tattooing?

سَيِّدُ ساداتٍ إِذا ضَمَّهُم

سَيِّدُ ساداتٍ إِذا ضَمَّهُم

مُعظَمُ أَمرٍ يَومَ بُؤسٍ وَضيق

مُعظَمُ أَمرٍ يَومَ بُؤسٍ وَضيق

A lord of lords, whenever they were gathered

Master of masters when they include him,

by a grave affair on a day of misery and distress.

In a grave matter, on an evil day of distress.

لَم يَكُ كَالسَيِّدِ في قَومِهِ

لَم يَكُ كَالسَيِّدِ في قَومِهِ

بَل مَلِكٌ دينَ لَهُ بِالحُقوق

بَل مَلِكٌ دينَ لَهُ بِالحُقوق

He was not merely a chief among his people,

He was not like the master among his people,

but a king, to whom homage was rightfully paid.

But a king whose rights were owed.

تَنفَرِجُ الضَلماءُ عَن وَجهِهِ

تَنفَرِجُ الضَلماءُ عَن وَجهِهِ

كَاللَيلِ وَلّى عَن صَديحٍ أَنيق

كَاللَيلِ وَلّى عَن صَديحٍ أَنيق

The darkness parts from his face,

The darkness uncovered from his face,

as night retreats before a radiant, lovely dawn.

Like the night that turned from a brilliant dawn.

إِن نَحنُ لَم نَثأَر بِهِ فَاِشحَذوا

إِن نَحنُ لَم نَثأَر بِهِ فَاِشحَذوا

شِفارَكُم مِنّا لَحِزِّ الحُلوق

شِفارَكُم مِنّا لَحِزِّ الحُلوق

If we do not avenge him, then sharpen

If we do not take vengeance through him, then sharpen,

your blades against us, to slit our throats.

Your blades from us for the slitting of throats.

ذَبحاً كَذَبحِ الشاةِ لا تَتَّقي

ذَبحاً كَذَبحِ الشاةِ لا تَتَّقي

ذابِحُها إِلّا بِشَخبِ العُروق

ذابِحُها إِلّا بِشَخبِ العُروق

A slaughter like a sheep's, which cannot ward off

Slaughter without avoiding like slaughtering a sheep,

its slaughterer except with blood spurting from its veins.

Its slaughterer does not avoid except the jugular veins.

أَصبَحَ ما بَينَ بَني وائِلٍ

أَصبَحَ ما بَينَ بَني وائِلٍ

مُنقَطِعَ الحَبلِ بَعيدَ الصَديق

مُنقَطِعَ الحَبلِ بَعيدَ الصَديق

What bound the sons of Wa'il has now become

What was between the clan of Wā’il,

a severed cord, with friends far apart.

Is severed rope, distant loved one.

غَداً نُساقي فَاِعلَموا بَينَناً

غَداً نُساقي فَاِعلَموا بَينَناً

أَرماحَنا مِن عاتِكٍ كَالرَحيق

أَرماحَنا مِن عاتِكٍ كَالرَحيق

Tomorrow—know this—we shall give drink between us

Tomorrow we will let you taste, so know between us,

to our spears: dark-red blood like pure wine.

Our spears of destruction like deadly poison.

مِن كُلِّ مَغوارِ الضُحى بُهمَةٍ

مِن كُلِّ مَغوارِ الضُحى بُهمَةٍ

شَمَردَلٍ مِن فَوقِ طِرفٍ عَتيق

شَمَردَلٍ مِن فَوقِ طِرفٍ عَتيق

From every raider at forenoon, a formidable warrior,

From every daring lion of the morning,

tall and strong, atop a noble horse.

Shamardal atop from an ancient elevation.

سَعالِيا تَحمِلَ مِن تَغلِبٍ

سَعالِيا تَحمِلَ مِن تَغلِبٍ

أَشباهَ جِنٍّ كَلُيوثِ الطَريق

أَشباهَ جِنٍّ كَلُيوثِ الطَريق

She-ghouls bearing men of Taghlib,

My Saʿālī carries from Taghlib,

figures like jinn, like lions along the road.

Likes of Jinn, like lions of the road.

لَيسَ أَخوكُم تارِكاً وِترَهُ

لَيسَ أَخوكُم تارِكاً وِترَهُ

دونَ تَقَضّي وِترُهُ بِالمُفيق

دونَ تَقَضّي وِترُهُ بِالمُفيق

Your brother will not abandon his blood-debt

Your brother does not neglect his duty,

until his blood-debt is settled at al-Mufiq.

Without fulfilling it with the awakening.