وَلَولا بَنو سَعدِ اِبنِ ضَبَّةَ أَصبَحَت

وَلَولا بَنو سَعدِ اِبنِ ضَبَّةَ أَصبَحَت

بَنو جارِمٍ مِنّي عَلى ظَهرِ أَجزَلِ

بَنو جارِمٍ مِنّي عَلى ظَهرِ أَجزَلِ

Were it not for the sons of Saʿd ibn Ḍabba, by morning

Were it not for the sons of Sa‘d ibn Dabba,

the sons of Jārim, through me, would be astride a stouter back.

the sons of Jarim would, because of me, be on the back of a sore-backed camel.

بَني جارِمٍ كُفّوا عِنانَ حِمارِكُم

بَني جارِمٍ كُفّوا عِنانَ حِمارِكُم

وَلا تَبعَثوهُ في الضَلالِ المُضَلَّلِ

وَلا تَبعَثوهُ في الضَلالِ المُضَلَّلِ

O sons of Jārim, rein in your donkey,

Sons of Jarim, hold back your donkey’s rein,

and do not send him forth into bewildering error.

and do not send him forth into utter error.

لَقَد كُنتُ عَن شَتمِ العَشيرَةِ مُحرِماً

لَقَد كُنتُ عَن شَتمِ العَشيرَةِ مُحرِماً

وَلَكِن مَتى تَستَعجِلِ الشَرَّيَعجِلِ

وَلَكِن مَتى تَستَعجِلِ الشَرَّيَعجِلِ

Indeed, I had held myself back from reviling the clan,

I had indeed held reviling the clan forbidden,

but whenever you hasten evil on, it is hastened upon you.

but whenever you seek to hasten evil, it hastens.