أَبى طولُ لَيلِكَ إِلّا سُهود

أَبى طولُ لَيلِكَ إِلّا سُهود

فَما إِن تَبينُ لِصُبحٍ عَمودا

فَما إِن تَبينُ لِصُبحٍ عَمودا

The length of your night allows only sleeplessness.

The length of your night persisted in worship

So you discern no shaft of dawn.

Until pillars appeared for the morning dawn

أَبيتُ كَئيباً أُراعي النُجومَ

أَبيتُ كَئيباً أُراعي النُجومَ

وَأُوجِعُ مِن ساعِدَيَّ الحَديدا

وَأُوجِعُ مِن ساعِدَيَّ الحَديدا

I spend the night sorrowful, watching the stars.

I remained sad, watching the stars

And with my two forearms I make the iron ache.

And my iron arms ached

أُرَجّي فَواضِلَ ذي بَهجَةٍ

أُرَجّي فَواضِلَ ذي بَهجَةٍ

مِنَ الناسِ يَجمَعُ حُزماً وَجودا

مِنَ الناسِ يَجمَعُ حُزماً وَجودا

I hope for the favors of a man of splendor,

I hoped for the generous one, full of delight

One among men who combines prudence and generosity.

Among the people, collecting resolve and munificence

نَمَتهُ إِمامَةُ وَالحارِثانِ

نَمَتهُ إِمامَةُ وَالحارِثانِ

حَتّى تَمَهَّلَ سَبقاً جَديدا

حَتّى تَمَهَّلَ سَبقاً جَديدا

He descends from Imamah and the two Hariths,

His leadership grew, and Al-Harith's sons

Until he advanced to a fresh lead,

Until he slowly gained new precedence

كَسَبقِ الجَوادِ غَداةَ الرِهانِ

كَسَبقِ الجَوادِ غَداةَ الرِهانِ

أَربى عَلى السِنِّ شَأواً مَديدا

أَربى عَلى السِنِّ شَأواً مَديدا

Like a noble steed's lead on the morning of the race.

Like the lead of a steed on the day of betting

He outstripped his years by a long distance.

He nurtured lifelong glory

فَاِجمَع فِداءٌ لَكَ الوالِدانِ

فَاِجمَع فِداءٌ لَكَ الوالِدانِ

لِما كُنتَ فينا بِخَيرٍ مُريدا

لِما كُنتَ فينا بِخَيرٍ مُريدا

Then resolve—may my parents be your ransom—

So gather ransom for your father and mother

On the good you intended for us.

For how you were among us, seeking good

فَتَجمَعُ نُعمى عَلى حاتِمٍ

فَتَجمَعُ نُعمى عَلى حاتِمٍ

وَتُحضِرُها مِن مَعَدٍّ شُهودا

وَتُحضِرُها مِن مَعَدٍّ شُهودا

Thus you will heap kindness upon Hatim,

And gather my bounty upon Hatem

And summon witnesses to it from Ma'add.

And present it from a witnessing pillar

أَمِ الهُلكُ أَدنى فَما إِن عَلِمتُ

أَمِ الهُلكُ أَدنى فَما إِن عَلِمتُ

عَلَيَّ جُناحاً فَأَخشى الوَعيدا

عَلَيَّ جُناحاً فَأَخشى الوَعيدا

Or is death nearer? For I know of no

Is death nearer, for I did not know

Guilt upon me that would make me fear the threat.

Any fault of mine, though I fear threats

فَأَحسِن فَلا عارَ فيما صَنَعتَ

فَأَحسِن فَلا عارَ فيما صَنَعتَ

تُحيِي جُدوداً وَتَبري جُدودا

تُحيِي جُدوداً وَتَبري جُدودا

So do good; there is no shame in what you have done:

So do good, no shame in what you have done

You revive fortunes and wear fortunes away.

You give life to ancestors and absolve ancestors