1. One grows old just by living, even if still young at heart
For time diminishes even the strongest and the oldest

2. Once beautiful maidens used to visit me,
With perfumed dresses and sweet ambergris

3. But when they saw the gray in my hair and I was left behind
They called me uncle and the gray hair made them flee

4. When they saw I had turned hoary, they became averse to me
As if my hair was cotton, nay it is more radiant

5. In my youth my hair was as if it were
The black wings of a dove when scattered

6. I used to bathe it every night with dew
So it would be curly like hanging grapes that drip

7. I used to walk straight and steady like a spear
But now I walk as if mounting a staff I hold

8. After it had turned black, my hair turned white
Whenever dyed, no matter the color, it would show

9. Like a red cap on the head of a barber
On a flimsy turban for those who can see

10. My head turned white after it had been black
In white hair there are signs for those who contemplate

11. After youth comes old age and weakness and death
With a gloomy appointed time that saddens

12. How many kings has time overpowered
Is there any lasting bliss that does not change?

13. Except my Lord’s kingdom, for He
Has the kingdom, He ordains what He wishes

14. Our ancestor Qahtan was famous and noble
He had a high position as rainmaker

15. If he extended his palm, the stars of fortune he would grasp
While other palms would be too short and fail

16. We inherited glory and leadership from him
Exalted, known to all people near and far

17. If the pedigree of kings is recounted
Ours is the highest flag none can lower

18. We ruled the kingdom of he of the two horns
Did any other human as exalted rule?

19. With gates facing sunrise and sunset
To watch the sun when it would disappear

20. And rise high to see it at dawn
Catching sight of it in its tower when it appears

21. All day long watching the sky and its portents
All night long an ever wakeful guard

22. He built a barrier of melted iron
Poured from springs, solid, that would not crack

23. He confined Gog and Magog behind it
Until the day of Reckoning and Revival

24. In Sheba, was there ever glory like theirs?
Of pure lineage, essence, and jewel

25. There was a kingdom for Banyan and Sua'd
And for Natiq an ancient glorious rule

26. Happiest were the people under their swords
Their great kingdom could not be defeated

27. The nobility of all the land's tribes bowed
When the nobility of their poets, Hinwir, was praised

28. In unbelief we were leaders of repute
Ours was the number of soldiers ever growing

29. We were the first to give refuge to Prophet Muhammad
We supported and sheltered him, ever loyal

30. From the blessed rising east, Ahmad the revered
Is to us like the rising of the radiant dawn

31. When the clamor of war rouses and rages
We rise as fiery stallions responding to the call

32. We defeat the armored horsemen when they attack
Killing the polytheist leaders who reject belief

33. When the Helpers marched around Muhammad
An army like a torrential flood

34. They marched around their Hashemite prophet
A light from God adorning his noble face

35. When they walked in Al-Mashrafiyya and Al-Qana
What a commotion from the regiment as it walked

36. When they marched in armor as if it were
The rumbling thunder in its might

37. We surpassed the kings of Damascus in every battle
For us are the meadows, watersprings and dwellings