فَبِتنا حَيثُ أَمسَينا قَريباً

فَبِتنا حَيثُ أَمسَينا قَريباً

عَلى جَسداءَ تَنبَحُنا الكَليبُ

عَلى جَسداءَ تَنبَحُنا الكَليبُ

So we spent the night nearby, where dusk had found us,

So we spent the night where evening found us,

At Jasdāʾ, with the dogs barking at us.

Near barren ground where dogs bark at us,

نَقَلنا سَبيَهُم صِرماً فَصِرماً

نَقَلنا سَبيَهُم صِرماً فَصِرماً

إِلى صِرمٍ كَما نُقِلَ النَصيبُ

إِلى صِرمٍ كَما نُقِلَ النَصيبُ

We moved their captives, band after band,

We moved their captives little by little

To a clan, as the allotted share was conveyed.

To another little group as fortune is apportioned,

غَضِبنا لِلَذي لاقَت نُفَيلٌ

غَضِبنا لِلَذي لاقَت نُفَيلٌ

وَخَيرُ الطالِبي التَرَةِ الغَضوبُ

وَخَيرُ الطالِبي التَرَةِ الغَضوبُ

We grew angry at what Nufayl had suffered,

We were angry at her who was once docile,

And the best of those seeking vengeance is the wrathful one.

And the best of those who seek advantage is the indignant one,

جَلَبنا الخَيلَ سائِلَةً عِجافاً

جَلَبنا الخَيلَ سائِلَةً عِجافاً

مِنَ الضُمرَينِ يَخبِطُها الضَريبُ

مِنَ الضُمرَينِ يَخبِطُها الضَريبُ

We brought the horses, streaming along and gaunt,

We brought the horses galloping without rest,

From al-Ḍumrayn, with frost battering them.

From fertile meadows where the tax collector beats them.