علامَ احتراسكِ لا أعلمُ

علامَ احتراسكِ لا أعلمُ

وفيمَ احتشادُكِ لا أفهمُ

وفيمَ احتشادُكِ لا أفهمُ

Why you are on your guard, I do not know.

Why are you so cautious, I do not know,

And why you muster, I do not understand.

And why are you amassing, I do not understand,

وهل في فلسطين ما ترهبين

وهل في فلسطين ما ترهبين

سوى أنه اجتمع الموسم

سوى أنه اجتمع الموسم

And is there anything in Palestine you fear

Is there in Palestine what you fear,

Except that the festival gathering has assembled?

Except that it is the season of gathering?

جواد براكبه عاثرٌ

جواد براكبه عاثرٌ

وأين له الفارس المُعْلَم

وأين له الفارس المُعْلَم

A steed stumbling with its rider—

A steed with its rider stumbling,

And where is its horseman, bearing his battle insignia?

And where is its accomplished knight?

وسيفٌ بحامله ساخرٌ

وسيفٌ بحامله ساخرٌ

وأين له الكفُّ والمعْصَمُ

وأين له الكفُّ والمعْصَمُ

And a sword mocking its bearer—

A sword with its wielder mocking,

And where are the hand and wrist to wield it?

And where is his palm and forearm?

وهذا بتهديده يدَّعي

وهذا بتهديده يدَّعي

وذاك بتنديده يَزْعم

وذاك بتنديده يَزْعم

And this one makes claims with his threats,

This one with his threats pretends,

And that one claims with his denunciations.

That one with his roaring claims,

معازيلُ إلاَّ من العنعنات

معازيلُ إلاَّ من العنعنات

مشاغيلُ عن كل ما يُكْرِم

مشاغيلُ عن كل ما يُكْرِم

Unarmed, save for chains of hearsay,

Nonsense except for chitchat,

Distracted from all that confers honor.

Preoccupations from all that is honorable,

مظاهرُ ليس بِها ما يخيفُ

مظاهرُ ليس بِها ما يخيفُ

ولكنَّما خاف مَنْ يَظْلِمُ

ولكنَّما خاف مَنْ يَظْلِمُ

Outward displays with nothing in them to frighten;

Appearances without anything frightening,

And yet only the oppressor has taken fright.

But those who wrong fear.