1. حَيِّ المَنازِلَ بِالأَجزاعِ فَالوادي

    وادي المُنيفَةِ إِذ تَبدو مَعَ البادي

    Greet the dwellings at the valley bends, then in the valley,

    The valley of al-Munifa, when she appeared with the desert folk.

  2. إِذ قَرَّبوا جِلَّةً فُتلاً مَرافِقُها

    مَيلَ العَرائِكِ إِذ هَمّوا بِإِصعادِ

    When they brought near great mature camels, their elbows bowed outward,

    Their humps slanting, as they prepared to journey upland.

  3. إِذا ضَرَحنَ حَصا مَعزاءُ هاجِرَةٍ

    مَدَّت سَوالِفَها في لينِ أَعضادِ

    When they scatter pebbles from stony ground in the midday heat,

    They stretch out their necks with supple upper forelegs.

  4. تَأتي الغَرِيَّ بِأَيديها وَأَرجُلِها

    كَأَنَّهُنَّ نَعامُ القَفرَةِ النادي

    They reach al-Ghari on their forelegs and hindlegs,

    As though they were the roaming ostriches of the wilderness.

  5. أَنا المُحامي إِذا ما الخَيلُ شَمَّصَها

    وَقعُ القَنا بِسُروجٍ فَوقَ أَلبادِ

    I am the defender when the horses are made to rear

    By the impact of lances, with saddles above felt pads,

  6. بِكُلِّ أَسمَرَ خَطِّيٍّ تُقَحِّمُهُ

    أَيدي الكُماةِ بِإِصدارٍ وَإيرادِ

    With every tawny spear from al-Khatt thrust forward

    By warriors’ hands, withdrawing it and driving it in.

  7. آوي إِلى صَخرَةٍ صَمّاءَ راسِيَةٍ

    تُنبي الصَفا حينَ يَردي صَخرَها الرادي

    I take refuge in a solid, firmly rooted rock,

    Which makes smooth stones rebound when a thrower pelts its rock.

  8. نُبِّئتُ ظَرباً مُعِدّاً لي مَرامِيَهُ

    يا ظَربُ إِنَّكَ رامٍ غيرُ مُصطادِ

    I was told that Ẓarb was readying his missiles for me.

    O Ẓarb, you shoot, yet take no prey.

  9. ما ظَنُّكُم بِبَني مَيثاءَ أَن فَزِعوا

    لَيلاً وَشَدَّ عَلَيهِم حَيَّةُ الوادي

    What think you of the sons of Maytha, if they take fright

    At night, and the valley’s serpent charges upon them?

  10. يَعدو عَلَيَّ أَبو لَيلى لِيَقتُلَني

    جَهلاً عَلَيَّ وَلَم يَثأَر بِشَدّادِ

    Abu Layla rushes at me to kill me,

    In foolish hostility against me, though he has not avenged Shaddad.

  11. ظَلَّ اِبنُ هِندابَةَ الثَرّاءَ مُبتَرِكاً

    يَروي لِقَينٍ وَلَم يُندَب لِإِسعادِ

    The son of Hindaba remained crouched upon the damp earth,

    Drawing water for a smith, not summoned to lend aid.

  12. ناموا فَقَد باتَ خِزيٌ في قَليبِكُمُ

    إِذ لَم تَرَوا مِن أَخيكُم غَيرَ أَجلادِ

    Sleep on, for disgrace has already spent the night in your well,

    Since you saw nothing of your brother but his bodily remains.

  13. يا عُقبَ يا اِبنَ سُنَيعٍ لَيسَ عِندَكُمُ

    مَأوى الرِفادِ وَلا ذو الرايَةِ الغادي

    O ʿUqb, O son of Sunayʿ, you have among you

    No refuge for seekers of bounty, nor a banner-bearer marching at dawn.

  14. لا تَأمَنَنَّ بَني مَيثاءَ إِنَّهُمُ

    مِن كُلِّ مُنتَفِجِ الجَنبَينِ حَيّادِ

    Never trust the sons of Maytha, for they are

    Of every swollen-flanked, ever-shirking sort.

  15. يا عُقبَ يا اِبنَ سُنَيعٍ بَعدَ قَولِكُمُ

    إِنَّ الوِثابَ لَكُم عِندي بِمِرصادِ

    O ʿUqb, O son of Sunayʿ, after your words,

    Indeed, the assault I have for you lies in ambush.

  16. اِروُوا عَلَيَّ وَأَرضوا بي صَديقَكُمُ

    وَاِستَسمِعوا يا بَني مَيثاءَ إِنشادي

    Recite against me, and please your friend at my expense,

    And listen closely, O sons of Maytha, to my recitation.