ناحَت بَني العَبسيِّ مَصرَعَ راحِلٍ

ناحَت بَني العَبسيِّ مَصرَعَ راحِلٍ

كَالرُمحِ باتَ موسَّداً تَحتَ الثَرى

كَالرُمحِ باتَ موسَّداً تَحتَ الثَرى

The sons of al-ʿAbsī mourned the death of a departed man.

The death of a rider has brought grief to the tribe of Banu 'Abs

Like a spear, he lay pillowed beneath the earth.

Like a spear, he now lies buried beneath the soil

شَهمٌ لَقَد فَقَدَ العفاةُ بِفَقدِهِ

شَهمٌ لَقَد فَقَدَ العفاةُ بِفَقدِهِ

عَوناً عَلى بُؤسِ الزَمانِ إِذا عَرا

عَوناً عَلى بُؤسِ الزَمانِ إِذا عَرا

A noble man—with his loss, those seeking bounty have lost

Indeed, with his passing the chivalrous have lost

A helper against the misery of the times whenever it struck.

A helping hand in times of adversity's woes

وَلَقَد مَضى نَحوَ النَعيمِ مزوَّداً

وَلَقَد مَضى نَحوَ النَعيمِ مزوَّداً

بِتُقى الإِلهِ وَبِالصَلاحِ مُؤزَّرا

بِتُقى الإِلهِ وَبِالصَلاحِ مُؤزَّرا

And indeed he journeyed toward bliss, provisioned

Yet he journeyed to bliss well-prepared

With reverence for God and girded with righteousness.

With piety towards God and righteousness girded

وَهُناكَ في التّاريخِ طابَ بِجَنَةٍ

وَهُناكَ في التّاريخِ طابَ بِجَنَةٍ

بِالفَوزِ ميخائيلُ فيها بُشِّرا

بِالفَوزِ ميخائيلُ فيها بُشِّرا

And there, as the chronogram has it, he found bliss in a garden,

And there in history, he revels in a garden

Where Mikhail was given glad tidings of triumph.

Triumphant, Michael rejoices having been given glad tidings