إِذاif أَرَدتَyou want اللَيِّنَthe gentle one الأَشَدّاthe strongest
إِذا أَرَدتَ اللَيِّنَ الأَشَدّا
مِنَamong الرِجالِmen فَعَلَيكَthen you should turn to سَعداSaʿd
مِنَ الرِجالِ فَعَلَيكَ سَعدا
If you seek the gentle yet strongest man,
If you want the softest of men—the fiercest
among men, then turn to Saʿd.
Of men, then take Sa'd as a warrior;
سَعدَSaʿd بنَson of زَيدٍZayd فَاِتَّخِذهُso take him جُنداan army
سَعدَ بنَ زَيدٍ فَاِتَّخِذهُ جُندا
لَيسَhe is not بِخَوّارٍa weakling يَهِدُّhe crushes هَدّاwith crushing force
لَيسَ بِخَوّارٍ يَهِدُّ هَدّا
Saʿd son of Zayd—so take him as an army.
Sa'd the son of Zayd, make him your soldier—
He is no weakling; he crushes utterly.
He is no coward who leaves others exposed.
لَيسَhe does not يَرىsee مِنfrom ضَربِstriking كَبشٍa ram بُدّاa way out
لَيسَ يَرى مِن ضَربِ كَبشٍ بُدّا
He sees no alternative to striking a ram.
He does not flinch at the blow of a ram.
Sol 6.1