ما أَرضى بِنُصحِ بَني كُلَيبٍ

ما أَرضى بِنُصحِ بَني كُلَيبٍ

وَما أَنا عَن عَريفِهِمُ بِراضي

وَما أَنا عَن عَريفِهِمُ بِراضي

I am not pleased with the counsel of Banu Kulayb,

I am not pleased with the advice of the tribe of Kulayb,

nor am I at all pleased with their headman.

Nor am I satisfied with their chieftain.

وَما أَنسى صَنيعَهُمُ بِحَجرٍ

وَما أَنسى صَنيعَهُمُ بِحَجرٍ

وَبِالقَصَباتِ مَحبِسَهُم مَخاضي

وَبِالقَصَباتِ مَحبِسَهُم مَخاضي

Nor do I forget what they did at Hajr,

I do not forget their mistreatment at Hajar,

and, at al-Qasabat, their penning up of my pregnant she-camels.

And their imprisonment in reed huts.

وَلَو شاءَ الأَطِبَّةُ أَخبَروني

وَلَو شاءَ الأَطِبَّةُ أَخبَروني

بِداءٍ في قُلوبِهِمِ المِراضِ

بِداءٍ في قُلوبِهِمِ المِراضِ

And if the physicians wished, they would tell me

If the wise men wished, they would tell me

of a disease in their sick hearts.

Of a sickness in their resentful hearts.

وَكَم دافَعتُ مِن خَطِلٍ ظَلومٍ

وَكَم دافَعتُ مِن خَطِلٍ ظَلومٍ

وَأَشوَسَ في الحُكومَةِ ذي اِعتِراضِ

وَأَشوَسَ في الحُكومَةِ ذي اِعتِراضِ

And how many a foolish oppressor I have fended off,

How often have I resisted an unjust tyrant,

and a scowling man given to objections in arbitration.

And the harshest ruler with objections.

شَديدٌ مِن وَرائِهِمُ ضَريري

شَديدٌ مِن وَرائِهِمُ ضَريري

بَطيءٌ بَعدَ مِرَّتِيَ اِنتِقاضي

بَطيءٌ بَعدَ مِرَّتِيَ اِنتِقاضي

My tenacity behind them is strong;

Behind them is my staunch determination,

once tightly twisted, I am slow to unravel.

Slow after my swift vindictiveness.