يا مصلتَ السيف لا تطلب به بدلاً

يا مصلتَ السيف لا تطلب به بدلاً

لا تبقينَّ فما أبقى وما عدلا

لا تبقينَّ فما أبقى وما عدلا

O wielder of the unsheathed sword, seek no other in his place.

O you who unsheathe the sword, seek no substitute for it.

Do not spare him—for he spared no one and acted without justice.

Do not spare him, for he spared none and showed no justice.

خُذه بثأري جزاءً بالذي فعلا

خُذه بثأري جزاءً بالذي فعلا

واقتله عني فإني بعض من قتلا

واقتله عني فإني بعض من قتلا

Take him in vengeance for me, as recompense for what he did.

Seize him to avenge me, in recompense for what he did.

And kill him on my behalf, for I am one of those he has slain.

And kill him on my behalf, for I am one of those he slew.

أقده بي وتجنب منه أربعةً

أقده بي وتجنب منه أربعةً

الجيدَ والخدَّ والألحاظَ والكفلا

الجيدَ والخدَّ والألحاظَ والكفلا

Exact retribution from him for me—but avoid four things of his:

Take his life for mine, but spare four parts of him:

the neck, the cheek, the glances, and the haunch.

His neck, his cheek, his glances, and his buttocks.

ما أنس لا أنسَ أيامَ السرورِ بهِ

ما أنس لا أنسَ أيامَ السرورِ بهِ

كأنما كان ظلاَّ فاءَ فانتقلا

كأنما كان ظلاَّ فاءَ فانتقلا

Whatever else I forget, I shall never forget the days of joy with him—

Whatever I forget, I will not forget the days of joy with him.

as though that joy were a shadow that turned, then passed away.

As though it were a shadow that returned, then moved away.