تَذَكَّرتَyou recalled شَجواًsorrow مِنfrom شَجاعَةَShuja'a مُنصِباexhausting
تَذَكَّرتَ شَجواً مِن شَجاعَةَ مُنصِبا
تَليداًlong-standing ومُنتاباًand recurring مِنَfrom الشَوقِlonging مُحلباroused
تَليداً ومُنتاباً مِنَ الشَوقِ مُحلبا
You recalled exhausting sorrow over Shuja'a,
I remembered a sorrow pouring forth from Shaja'a,
ancient and recurring, stirred by longing.
Ancient and recurring, milking tears of longing.
تَذَكرتَyou recalled حيّاًa clan كانَwas فيin مَيعَةِthe bloom of الصِباyouth
تَذَكرتَ حيّاً كانَ في مَيعَةِ الصِبا
وَوَجداًand passionate love بِهاfor her بَعدَafter المَشيبِgraying hair مُعَقِّباreturning
وَوَجداً بِها بَعدَ المَشيبِ مُعَقِّبا
You recalled a clan from the bloom of youth,
I remembered a tribe that was in the prime of youth,
and passion for her returning after your hair turned gray.
And a passion for her that follows even after graying.
إِذاwhen كانَhe was يَنساهاforgetting her تَرَدَّدَreturned حبُّهاlove for her
إِذا كانَ يَنساها تَرَدَّدَ حبُّها
فَيالَكَso, alas for you قَدindeed عَنّىwearied الفؤادَthe heart وَعَدَّباand tormented
فَيالَكَ قَد عَنّى الفؤادَ وَعَدَّبا
Whenever he began to forget her, love for her returned.
If he tries to forget her, her love returns repeatedly;
Alas for you! It has wearied and tormented the heart.
Oh, how it has troubled the heart and tormented it!
ضَنىًwasted with sickness مَنfrom هَواهاlove for her مُستَكِنٌّwithdrawn كأَنَّهُas though he were
ضَنىً مَن هَواها مُستَكِنٌّ كأَنَّهُ
خَليعُan outcast قِداحٍgaming arrows لَمdid not يَجِدfind مُتَنَشَّباsomething to cling to
خَليعُ قِداحٍ لَم يَجِد مُتَنَشَّبا
Wasted by love for her, withdrawn, he is like
Wasting away from her love is hidden deep, as if
an outcast among gaming arrows, finding nothing to cling to.
A gambler with arrows who found no way to win.
فَأَصبَحَso became باقيwhat remained الودِّof affection بَينيbetween me وَبينَهاand between her
فَأَصبَحَ باقي الودِّ بَيني وَبينَها
رَجاءًhope عَلىupon يأَسٍdespair وَظَنّاًand conjecture مُغَيَّباhidden
رَجاءً عَلى يأَسٍ وَظَنّاً مُغَيَّبا
So what affection remained between me and her became
So the remaining affection between me and her became
hope resting on despair, and a hidden conjecture.
A hope built on despair and a doubt concealed.
وَيَومَand on the day عَرَفتُI recognized الدارَthe dwelling مِنهاof hers بِبَيشَةٍat Bishah
وَيَومَ عَرَفتُ الدارَ مِنها بِبَيشَةٍ
فَخِلتُso I thought طُلولَruins الدارِof the dwelling فيin الأَرضِthe ground مِذنَباa watercourse
فَخِلتُ طُلولَ الدارِ في الأَرضِ مِذنَبا
On the day I recognized her dwelling at Bishah,
And the day I recognized her abode at Bisha,
I took the dwelling's ruins for a watercourse in the ground.
I imagined the ruins of the dwelling were a flowing channel in the earth.
تَبَيَّنتُI discerned مِنfrom عَهدِthe memory of العِراصِthe courtyards وأَهلِهاand their people
تَبَيَّنتُ مِن عَهدِ العِراصِ وأَهلِها
مرادَthe haunt of جَواريyoung women بِالصَّفيحِat al-Safih وَمَلعَباand a playground
مرادَ جَواري بِالصَّفيحِ وَمَلعَبا
From memories of the courtyards and their people, I discerned
I discerned from the traces of the courtyards and its people,
the girls' haunts and playground at al-Safih,
The grazing place of maidens at Al-Safih and a playground.
وأَجنَفَand leaning مأَطورbent القَرىin the back كانَwas جُنَّةًa shield
وأَجنَفَ مأَطور القَرى كانَ جُنَّةً
مِنَfrom السَيلِthe flood عالتَهُshe raised it الوَليدَةُthe serving girl أَحدَباhump-shaped
مِنَ السَيلِ عالتَهُ الوَليدَةُ أَحدَبا
and a leaning, bent-backed structure that had been a shield
And a curved valley side that was a shelter
against the flood, raised hump-shaped by a serving girl.
From the flood, which the servant girl built up high.
بِعَينيكbefore your eyes زالَdeparted الحَيُّthe clan مِنهاfrom there لنيَّةٍtoward a destination
بِعَينيك زالَ الحَيُّ مِنها لنيَّةٍ
قَذوفٍfar distant تَشوقُstirs longing in الآلِفَthe devoted one المُتَطَرَّباthe emotionally stirred one
قَذوفٍ تَشوقُ الآلِفَ المُتَطَرَّبا
Before your eyes, the clan left there for a destination
With your eyes, you saw the tribe depart from it with an intention,
far away, stirring the longing of the devoted, yearning lover.
Casting far away, exciting the longing of the one left behind.
فَزَمُّواso they bridled بِلَيلٍat night كُلَّevery وَجناءَstout-cheeked she-camel حُرَّةٍnoble
فَزَمُّوا بِلَيلٍ كُلَّ وَجناءَ حُرَّةٍ
ذَقونٍchin-dipping إِذاwhen ماever سائقُthe driver of الرَكبِthe caravan أَهذباhastened
ذَقونٍ إِذا ما سائقُ الرَكبِ أَهذبا
At night they bridled every noble, stout-cheeked she-camel,
They bridled at night every noble, strong she-camel,
dipping her chin whenever the caravan driver hastened.
Who lowers her chin when the driver urges the caravan to speed.
وأَعيَسَand a pale camel نَضّاخِstreaming with sweat المَقَذِّat the nape تَخالُهُyou would think it
وأَعيَسَ نَضّاخِ المَقَذِّ تَخالُهُ
إِذاwhen ماever تَدانىit drew close بِالظَعينَةِto the woman's litter أَنكَباlopsided
إِذا ما تَدانى بِالظَعينَةِ أَنكَبا
And a pale camel, sweat streaming from its nape, which you would think
And a white camel, sweating at the ears, whom you would think,
lopsided whenever it drew near the woman's litter.
When he draws near the lady's litter, swerves aside.
ظَعائنَwomen in litters مُتباعِever following الهَوىdesire قَذَفِfar-ranging النَوىdestinations
ظَعائنَ مُتباعِ الهَوى قَذَفِ النَوى
فَرودٍsolitary إِذاwhen خافَit feared الجَميعُthe herd تَنكَّباit turned aside
فَرودٍ إِذا خافَ الجَميعُ تَنكَّبا
Women in litters, borne by a mount following its urge and ranging far,
Litters following desire, casting across distances,
solitary, turning aside whenever it feared the herd.
Moving alone; if the group fears, he steps aside.
فَقَدfor indeed طالَhas lasted long ماthe time that عُلِّقتَyou were enamored of لَيلىLayla مُغَمَّراًinexperienced
فَقَد طالَ ما عُلِّقتَ لَيلى مُغَمَّراً
وَليداًas a child إِلىuntil أَنthat صارَbecame رأَسُكَyour head أَشيباgray-haired
وَليداً إِلى أَن صارَ رأَسُكَ أَشيبا
Long indeed have you loved Layla, inexperienced,
Long indeed have you been attached to Layla, inexperienced,
from childhood until your head grew gray.
From a child, until your head became gray.
فَلاso not أَناI أُرضيappease اليَومَtoday مَنwhoever كانَwas ساخِطاًangry
فَلا أَنا أُرضي اليَومَ مَن كانَ ساخِطاً
تَجَنُّبَby shunning لَيلىLayla إِنif أَرادَhe wished تَجَنُّباavoidance
تَجَنُّبَ لَيلى إِن أَرادَ تَجَنُّبا
So today I will not appease anyone angry
So I do not satisfy today the one who was angry,
by shunning Layla, if he desires such avoidance.
By avoiding Layla, if he desired avoidance.
رأَيتُكِI saw you مِنbecause of لَيلىLayla كَذيlike one with الداءِillness لَمdid not يَجِدfind
رأَيتُكِ مِن لَيلى كَذي الداءِ لَم يَجِد
طَبيباًa physician يُداويwho treats ماwhat بِهِails him فَتَطَبَّباso he doctored himself
طَبيباً يُداوي ما بِهِ فَتَطَبَّبا
I saw you, because of Layla, like a sick man unable to find
I saw you regarding Layla like one with a disease who found no
a physician to treat his illness, so he doctored himself.
Doctor to cure what ailed him, so he practiced medicine himself.
فَلَمّاthen when اشتَفىhe sought healing مِمّاfrom what بِهِailed him عَلَّhe repeated طِبَّهُhis remedy
فَلَمّا اشتَفى مِمّا بِهِ عَلَّ طِبَّهُ
عَلىupon نَفسِهِhimself مِمّاfor what بِهِailed him كانَhe had جَرَّباtested
عَلى نَفسِهِ مِمّا بِهِ كانَ جَرَّبا
When he sought relief from his illness, he repeated his remedy
But when he sought cure, his medicine became an illness
upon himself, using what he had tested for that ailment.
Upon himself, from what he had tested.
فَدَعso leave عَنكَaside from you أَمراًa matter قَدalready تَوَلّىhas gone away لِشأَنِهِon its own course
فَدَع عَنكَ أَمراً قَد تَوَلّى لِشأَنِهِ
وَقَضِّand fulfill لُباناتِthe desires of الهَوىlove إِذnow that تَقَضَّباit was severed
وَقَضِّ لُباناتِ الهَوى إِذ تَقَضَّبا
So leave alone a matter that has gone its own way,
So leave aside a matter that has passed for its own sake,
and fulfill love's desires now that it has been severed,
And fulfill the needs of passion as it is cut off.
بِشَهمٍwith a spirited mount جَديَليّJadili كأَنَّas though صَريفَهُits tooth-grinding
بِشَهمٍ جَديَليّ كأَنَّ صَريفَهُ
إِذاwhen اصطُكَّclashed ناباهُits two fangs تَغَرُّدُthe warbling of أَخطَباa roller bird
إِذا اصطُكَّ ناباهُ تَغَرُّدُ أَخطَبا
with a spirited Jadili camel, whose tooth-grinding is like
With a strong, braided-rein camel whose teeth grinding sounds,
a roller's warbling when its two fangs clash.
When his fangs clash, like the chirping of a shrike.
بَرىwore away أُسَّهُits bulk عِندَduring السِفارِjourneys فَرَدَّهُand so reduced it
بَرى أُسَّهُ عِندَ السِفارِ فَرَدَّهُ
إِلىto خالِصٍpure مِنof ناصِعِbright اللَونِcolor أَصهباtawny
إِلى خالِصٍ مِن ناصِعِ اللَونِ أَصهبا
Travel wore away its bulk and reduced it
The journey wore down his flesh, reducing him
to a pure, bright-colored, tawny form.
To a pure, bright reddish-white color.
بِهِon it أَجتَديI seek الهَمَّthe purpose البَعيدَfar-reaching وأَجتَزيand I traverse
بِهِ أَجتَدي الهَمَّ البَعيدَ وأَجتَزي
إِذاwhen وَقَدَblazed اليَومُthe day المَليعَthe open wasteland المُذَبذَباshimmering
إِذا وَقَدَ اليَومُ المَليعَ المُذَبذَبا
On it I pursue a distant purpose and cross
With him I seek the distant concern and satisfy myself,
the shimmering open waste when the day blazes.
When the day burns the shimmering, fluctuating desert.
أَلاlisten أَيُّهَذاyou there المُحتَديناwho challenge us بِشَتمِهِwith his insults
أَلا أَيُّهَذا المُحتَدينا بِشَتمِهِ
كَفىsuffices بيَwith me عَنin defense of أَعراضِthe honor of قَوميَmy people مُرهَباas a deterrent
كَفى بيَ عَن أَعراضِ قَوميَ مُرهَبا
Listen, you who challenge us with your insults,
Listen, O you who challenge us with his insults,
I suffice as a deterrent guarding my people's honor.
I am sufficient as a deterrent for the honor of my people.
وَجازَيتَand you contended with مِنّيin me غَيرَnot ذيone possessing مثنويةٍa second attempt
وَجازَيتَ مِنّي غَيرَ ذي مثنويةٍ
عَلىat الدَفعَةِthe onset الأَولىfirst مُبِرّاًoutstripping مُجَرَّباًtried and proven
عَلى الدَفعَةِ الأَولى مُبِرّاً مُجَرَّباً
In me you faced one needing no second attempt,
You received from me a blow without a second,
outstripping you at the first onset, tried and proven:
On the first onset, overcoming and tested.
لِزازَa tenacious rival حِضارٍin racing يَسبِقُoutpaces الخَيلَthe horses عَفوهُhis easy pace
لِزازَ حِضارٍ يَسبِقُ الخَيلَ عَفوهُ
وَساطٍand long-striding إِذاwhen ضَمَّgathered المَحاضيرَthe swift racers مُعقباfollowing closely
وَساطٍ إِذا ضَمَّ المَحاضيرَ مُعقبا
a relentless racer whose easy stride outpaces horses,
Close-paced, his effortless run outstrips horses,
and long-striding when the swift racers bunch, pressing close behind.
Stretching out when he gathers the running horses, coming from behind.
سَجولٌfree-striding أَمامَahead of الخَيلِthe horses ثانيturning عَطفِهِhis flank
سَجولٌ أَمامَ الخَيلِ ثاني عَطفِهِ
إِذاwhen صَدرُهُhis chest بَعدَafter التَناظُرِeyeing one another صَوَّباdipped downward
إِذا صَدرُهُ بَعدَ التَناظُرِ صَوَّبا
Free-striding ahead of the horses, turning his flank,
Pouring speed in front of the horses, bending his neck,
when his chest dips after he has eyed his rivals.
When his chest aims forward after they eye one another.
تَعالَواcome, all of you إِذاwhen ضَمَّgathered المَنازِلُthe camps مِنof مِنىًMina
تَعالَوا إِذا ضَمَّ المَنازِلُ مِن مِنىً
وَمَكّةُand Mecca مِنfrom كُلِّevery القَبائِلِtribe مَنكِباa throng
وَمَكّةُ مِن كُلِّ القَبائِلِ مَنكِبا
Come, when the camps of Mina gather,
Come, let us judge when the dwellings at Mina gather,
and Mecca too, a throng from every tribe.
And Mecca gathers a group from every tribe.
نواضِعُكُمwe compare with you أَبناءَناour sons عَنagainst بَنيكُمُyour sons
نواضِعُكُم أَبناءَنا عَن بَنيكُمُ
عَلىas to خَيرِناthe best of us فيamong الناسِpeople فَرعاًin lineage وَمَنصِباًand in rank
عَلى خَيرِنا في الناسِ فَرعاً وَمَنصِباً
We shall compare our sons with your sons before you,
Compare our sons defending against your sons,
as to which of us is best among men in lineage and rank,
To determine the best of us among people in branch and origin.
وخَيرٍand best لِجادٍto a supplicant مِنamong مَوالٍallies وَغيرِهِمand others besides them
وخَيرٍ لِجادٍ مِن مَوالٍ وَغيرِهِم
إِذاwhen بادَرَhurried toward القَومُthe people الكَنيفَthe shelter المُنَصَّباerected
إِذا بادَرَ القَومُ الكَنيفَ المُنَصَّبا
and best to seekers of help, whether allies or others,
And the best for the seeker of aid among clients and others,
when people hurry to the erected shelter,
When the people hasten to the erected shelter.
وَأَشرَعَand readiest فيin المِقرىhospitality وَفيand in دَعوَةِthe summons to النَدىgenerosity
وَأَشرَعَ في المِقرى وَفي دَعوَةِ النَدى
إِذاwhen رائِدٌa scout لِلقَومِfor the people رادَsearched for pasture فأَجدَباand found barren land
إِذا رائِدٌ لِلقَومِ رادَ فأَجدَبا
and readiest in hospitality and the call to generosity,
And the fastest in hospitality and in the call of generosity,
when a scout seeks pasture for the people and finds barren land,
When a scout for the people roams and finds drought.
وأَقوَلناand readiest of us to say لِلضَّيفِto the guest يَنزِلُwho alights طارِقاًarriving at night
وأَقوَلنا لِلضَّيفِ يَنزِلُ طارِقاً
إِذاwhen كُرِهَwere disliked الأَضيافُguests أَهلاًwelcome وَمَرحَباand a warm welcome
إِذا كُرِهَ الأَضيافُ أَهلاً وَمَرحَبا
and readiest among us to tell a guest arriving at night,
And the most likely to say to the guest arriving at night,
when guests are unwelcome: 'Welcome, most welcome!'
When guests are disliked: 'Welcome and hello.'
وأَصبرَand most steadfast فيon يَومِthe day of الطِعانِspear-thrusting إِذاwhen غَدَتthey went forth
وأَصبرَ في يَومِ الطِعانِ إِذا غَدَت
رِعالاًin squadrons يُبارينَracing alongside الوَشيجَthe spear-shafts المُذَرَّباsharpened
رِعالاً يُبارينَ الوَشيجَ المُذَرَّبا
And most steadfast on the day of spear-thrusts, when they go forth
And the most patient in the day of spearing when
in squadrons, vying with the sharpened lances.
Crowds compete with sharpened spears.
هُنالِكَthere يُعطيgives الحَقَّdue right مَنwhoever كانَwas أَهلَهُworthy of it
هُنالِكَ يُعطي الحَقَّ مَن كانَ أَهلَهُ
وَيَغلُبُand overcomes أَهلُpeople of الصِدقِtruth مَنwhoever كانَwas أَكذَباmore false
وَيَغلُبُ أَهلُ الصِدقِ مَن كانَ أَكذَبا
There one grants what is due to whoever deserves it,
There, the right is given to the one who deserves it,
and men of truth prevail over whoever is more false.
And the people of truth overcome the one who was a liar.
وإِنand if تسأَمواyou tire مِنof رِحلَةٍa journey أَوor تُعَجِّلواyou hasten
وإِن تسأَموا مِن رِحلَةٍ أَو تُعَجِّلوا
إِنىthe time of الحَجِpilgrimage أُخبِركُمI tell you حَديثاًa tale مُطَنِّباlengthy
إِنى الحَجِ أُخبِركُم حَديثاً مُطَنِّبا
If you tire of a journey, or seek to hasten
And if you weary of a journey or hasten
the pilgrimage's time, I shall tell you a lengthy tale.
To the Hajj, I will tell you a long story.
أَناI المَرءُthe man لاnot يَخشاكُمُfears you إِنif غَضِبتُمُyou grew angry
أَنا المَرءُ لا يَخشاكُمُ إِن غَضِبتُمُ
وَلاand not يَتَوَقّىhe guards against سُخطَكُمyour displeasure إِنif تَغَضَّباhe grows angry
وَلا يَتَوَقّى سُخطَكُم إِن تَغَضَّبا
I am the man who does not fear you when you grow angry,
I am the man who does not fear you if you are angry,
nor guards against your displeasure when he grows angry.
Nor does he guard against your wrath if you get enraged.
أَناI ابنُthe son of الَّذيthe one who فاداكُمُransomed you قَدindeed عَلِمتُمُyou know
أَنا ابنُ الَّذي فاداكُمُ قَد عَلِمتُمُ
بِبَطنِin the valley of مُعانٍMu'an والقيادَand the led horses المُجَنَّباkept alongside
بِبَطنِ مُعانٍ والقيادَ المُجَنَّبا
I am the son of the man who ransomed you, as you know,
I am the son of the one who ransomed you, as you know,
in the valley of Mu'an, along with the horses led alongside.
In the valley of Ma'an, with led horses kept aside.
وَجَدّيand my grandfather الَّذيthe one whom كُنتُمyou used to تَظلَّونَremain سُجَّداًprostrate
وَجَدّي الَّذي كُنتُم تَظلَّونَ سُجَّداً
لَهُbefore him رَغبَةًout of desire فيfor مُلكِهِhis dominion وَتَحَوُّباand fear of sin
لَهُ رَغبَةً في مُلكِهِ وَتَحَوُّبا
My grandfather is the one before whom you would remain prostrate,
And my grandfather to whom you used to remain prostrate,
longing for his dominion, and fearing sin.
Desiring his kingdom and in awe.
وَنَحنُand we رَدَدناdrove back قَيسَQays عَيلانَAylan عَنكُمُfrom you
وَنَحنُ رَدَدنا قَيسَ عَيلانَ عَنكُمُ
وَمَنand whoever سارَmarched مِنfrom أَقطارِهِits far reaches وَتأَلَّباand joined forces
وَمَن سارَ مِن أَقطارِهِ وَتأَلَّبا
We drove Qays Aylan back from you,
And we repelled Qays Ailan from you,
and those who marched from its far reaches and joined forces,
And whoever marched from his regions and gathered.
بِشَهباءَwith a gray host إِذwhen شُبَّتwas kindled لِحَربٍfor war شُبوبُهاits blazing
بِشَهباءَ إِذ شُبَّت لِحَربٍ شُبوبُها
وَغَسّانَand Ghassan إِذwhen زافواthey marched جَميعاًall together وَتَغلِباand Taghlib
وَغَسّانَ إِذ زافوا جَميعاً وَتَغلِبا
with a gray host, when its blaze was kindled for war,
With a gray army when the fire of war was kindled,
and Ghassan, when they all advanced together, and Taghlib.
And Ghassan when they strutted together, and Taghlib.
بِنقعاءَat Naq'a أَظلَلناwe loomed up لَكُمfor you مِنfrom وَرائِهِمbehind them
بِنقعاءَ أَظلَلنا لَكُم مِن وَرائِهِم
بِمُنخَرِقِin the gap of النَقعاءِal-Naq'a يَوماًon a day عَصَبصَباfierce and grievous
بِمُنخَرِقِ النَقعاءِ يَوماً عَصَبصَبا
At Naq'a we loomed up for you from their rear,
At Naq'a, we cast a shadow for you from behind them,
in the gap of al-Naq'a, on a fierce and grievous day.
In the piercing dust of Naq'a on a difficult day.
فَأُبناso we returned جِدالاًstrong سالِمينَunharmed وَغُودِرواand they were left
فَأُبنا جِدالاً سالِمينَ وَغُودِروا
قَتيلاًslain وَمَشدودَand bound اليَدَينِby both hands مُكَلَّباshackled
قَتيلاً وَمَشدودَ اليَدَينِ مُكَلَّبا
We returned strong and unharmed, while they were left
We returned from the fight safe, while they were left
some slain, some with both hands bound and shackled.
Slain and bound by hands in chains.
أَلَمdid not تَعلَمواyou know أَنّاthat we نُذَبِّبُdefend عَنكُمُin your defense
أَلَم تَعلَموا أَنّا نُذَبِّبُ عَنكُمُ
إِذاwhen المَرءُa man عَنin defense of مَولاهُhis ally فيamid الرَّوعِterror ذَبَّباdefended
إِذا المَرءُ عَن مَولاهُ في الرَّوعِ ذَبَّبا
Did you not know that we defend you,
Did you not know that we defend you,
when a man defends his ally amid terror?
As a man defends his client in the time of fear?
وَإِنّاand we indeed نُزَكِّيكُمcommend you وَنَحمِلُand carry كَلَّكُمyour burden
وَإِنّا نُزَكِّيكُم وَنَحمِلُ كَلَّكُم
وَنَجبُرُand relieve مِنكُمamong you ذاthe one with العيالِdependents المُعَصَّباhunger-pinched
وَنَجبُرُ مِنكُم ذا العيالِ المُعَصَّبا
We commend you and bear your burdens,
And we purify you and bear your burdens,
and relieve your hunger-pinched man with dependents.
And we restore the one among you with a large family who is distressed.
وَإِنّاand we indeed بإِذنِby the leave of اللَهِGod دَوَّخَsubdued ضَربُناour blows
وَإِنّا بإِذنِ اللَهِ دَوَّخَ ضَربُنا
لَكُمfor you مَشرِقاًan eastern region فيin كُلِevery أَرضٍland وَمَغرِباand a western region
لَكُم مَشرِقاً في كُلِ أَرضٍ وَمَغرِبا
By God's leave, our blows have subdued
And we, by God's permission, our striking has subdued
east and west for you in every land.
For you an East in every land and a West.
عَلَيناupon us إِذاwhen جَدَّتrenewed مَعَدٌMa'add قَديمَهاits ancient heritage
عَلَينا إِذا جَدَّت مَعَدٌ قَديمَها
ليَومِfor the day of النِجادِsword-belts مَيعَةًvigor وَتَغَلُّباand mastery
ليَومِ النِجادِ مَيعَةً وَتَغَلُّبا
It falls to us, when Ma'add revives its ancient prowess,
It is upon us, when Ma'ad renews its ancient glory,
to show vigor and mastery on the day of sword-belts.
For the day of struggle, to have vigor and victory.
وَإِنّاand we أُناسٌare people لاnot نَرىconsider الحِلمَforbearance ذِلَّةًhumiliation
وَإِنّا أُناسٌ لا نَرى الحِلمَ ذِلَّةً
وَلاnor العَجزَhelplessness حينَwhen الجَدُّserious effort حِلماًforbearance مَؤَرَّباprudent
وَلا العَجزَ حينَ الجَدُّ حِلماً مَؤَرَّبا
We are people who do not regard forbearance as humiliation,
And we are a people who do not see forbearance as humiliation,
nor weakness in earnest affairs as prudent restraint.
Nor do we see weakness, when seriousness is needed, as cunning forbearance.
وَنَحنُand we إِذاwhen عَدَّتcounted مَعَدٌMa'add قَديمَهاits ancient deeds
وَنَحنُ إِذا عَدَّت مَعَدٌ قَديمَها
يُعَدُّis counted لَناfor us عَدّاًin reckoning عَلىabove الناسِother people تُرتَباfirmly established
يُعَدُّ لَنا عَدّاً عَلى الناسِ تُرتَبا
When Ma'add recounts its ancient deeds,
And we, when Ma'ad counts its ancient glory,
our precedence over others is firmly counted in our favor.
Are reckoned above people in rank.
سَبَقناwe surpassed إِذاwhen عَدَّتcounted مَعَدٌMa'add قَديمَهاits ancient deeds
سَبَقنا إِذا عَدَّت مَعَدٌ قَديمَها
ليَومِfor a day of حِفاظٍdefending honor مَيعَةًvigor وَتَقَلُّباand swift maneuvering
ليَومِ حِفاظٍ مَيعَةً وَتَقَلُّبا
We surpassed others, when Ma'add counted its ancient deeds,
We surpassed them when Ma'ad counts its ancient glory,
in vigor and swift maneuver for a day of defending honor.
For a day of defense, in vigor and movement.
وَإِنّاand we indeed لَقَومٌare truly a people لاnot نَرىconsider الحِلمَforbearance ذِلَّةًhumiliation
وَإِنّا لَقَومٌ لا نَرى الحِلمَ ذِلَّةً
وَلاnor نُبسِلُwe surrender المَجدَglory المُنىvain hopes والتَجَلُّباand clamorous display
وَلا نُبسِلُ المَجدَ المُنى والتَجَلُّبا
We are indeed a people who do not count forbearance as humiliation,
And we are a people who do not see forbearance as humiliation,
nor surrender glory to vain hopes and clamorous display.
Nor do we surrender glory to mere wishes and clamor.
وإِنّاand we نَرىconsider مِنwhoever أُعدِمَwas deprived of الحِلمَforbearance مُعِدماًdestitute
وإِنّا نَرى مِن أُعدِمَ الحِلمَ مُعِدماً
وإِنeven if كانَhe were مَدثوراًheaped with riches مِنَof المالِwealth مُترِباrich
وإِن كانَ مَدثوراً مِنَ المالِ مُترِبا
We count anyone deprived of forbearance as destitute,
We consider he who lacks forbearance to be destitute,
even if he is heaped with wealth and rich.
Even if he is wealthy with money, possessing riches.
وَذوand one with الوَفرِabundance مُستَغنٍself-sufficient وَيَنفَعُand benefits وَفرُهُhis abundance
وَذو الوَفرِ مُستَغنٍ وَيَنفَعُ وَفرُهُ
وَلَيسَand does not يَبيتُspend the night الحِلمُforbearance عَنّاaway from us مُعَزَّباkept distant
وَلَيسَ يَبيتُ الحِلمُ عَنّا مُعَزَّبا
One with plenty is self-sufficient, and his plenty is useful,
The possessor of abundance is rich and his abundance benefits,
and forbearance never spends the night apart from us.
And forbearance does not spend the night far away from us.
وَلاand not نَخذُلُwe abandon المَولىthe ally وَلاnor نَرفَعُwe raise العَصاthe staff
وَلا نَخذُلُ المَولى وَلا نَرفَعُ العَصا
عَلَيهِagainst him وَلاnor نُزجيwe send إِلىtoward الجارِthe neighbor عَقرَباa scorpion
عَلَيهِ وَلا نُزجي إِلى الجارِ عَقرَبا
We do not abandon an ally, nor raise the staff
We do not abandon the client, nor do we raise the stick
against him, nor send a scorpion toward our neighbor.
Against him, nor do we push a scorpion towards the neighbor.
فَهَذيso these are مَساعيناour endeavors فَجيئواso bring بِمثلَهاwith their like
فَهَذي مَساعينا فَجيئوا بِمثلَها
وَهَذاand this is أَبوناour father فابتَغواso seek مِثلَهُhis like أَباas a father
وَهَذا أَبونا فابتَغوا مِثلَهُ أَبا
These are our deeds; bring their like,
These are our endeavors, so bring the like of them,
and this is our father; seek a father like him.
And this is our father, so seek a father like him.
وَكانَand he was فَلاso do not تُودواstray عَنِfrom الحَقِّthe truth بِالمُنىthrough vain hopes
وَكانَ فَلا تُودوا عَنِ الحَقِّ بِالمُنى
أَفَكَّreadier to free captives وأَولىand worthier بِالعَلاءِof eminence وَأَوهَباand more generous
أَفَكَّ وأَولى بِالعَلاءِ وَأَوهَبا
He was—so do not stray from truth through vain hopes—
He was—so do not deviate from the truth with wishes—
readier to free captives, worthier of eminence, and more generous
The best at unbinding captives, the most deserving of height, and the most giving.
لِمَثنىwith doubled المِئينَhundreds والأَساريand captives لأَهلِهاto their families
لِمَثنى المِئينَ والأَساري لأَهلِها
وَحَملِand in supporting الضياعِthe destitute لاnot يَرىhe considers ذاكَthat مُتعِباwearisome
وَحَملِ الضياعِ لا يَرى ذاكَ مُتعِبا
with hundreds doubled, and captives restored to their families,
To hundreds upon hundreds, and returning captives to their families,
and in supporting the destitute, never finding that wearisome,
And bearing the burden of the lost, seeing no fatigue in that.
وَخَيراًand better لأَدنىto the nearest of أَصلِهِhis kin مِنthan أَبيكُمُyour father
وَخَيراً لأَدنى أَصلِهِ مِن أَبيكُمُ
ولِلمُجتَدىand to the seeker of bounty الأَقصىmost distant إِذاwhen ماever تَثَوَّباhe returned
ولِلمُجتَدى الأَقصى إِذا ما تَثَوَّبا
and better to his nearest kin than your father,
And better to the lowest of his kin than your father,
and to the farthest seeker of bounty when he returned.
And to the furthest seeker of aid when he returns.
Sol 6.1