بيت حمت عنه أسنة أشعر

بيت حمت عنه أسنة أشعر

أن تستباح وإنها لطوالُ

أن تستباح وإنها لطوالُ

A house the spearheads of Ashʿar have shielded

A house defended by spears of eloquent poets

From being violated—and long indeed they are.

Lest it be violated, though it is so high

بيت له الكوم الضخام ببابه

بيت له الكوم الضخام ببابه

مسدوحة وتعفر الأبطالُ

مسدوحة وتعفر الأبطالُ

A house with huge, high-humped she-camels at its door,

A house with a huge heap at its door

Laid out flat, and champions cast into the dust.

Adorned, and where heroes throng

بيت لوالا رماح تلمسُ تربَه

بيت لوالا رماح تلمسُ تربَه

لا ندقّ منهنّ القنا العَسَالُ

لا ندقّ منهنّ القنا العَسَالُ

A house—if spears were to touch its soil,

A house, were it not for lances that touch its soil

The swaying spear-shafts among them would shatter.

Honey would not be extracted from their tips

من أين أجحدُ فضلَ آل معيبد

من أين أجحدُ فضلَ آل معيبد

كلاّ وآل معيبد لي آلُ

كلاّ وآل معيبد لي آلُ

How could I deny the bounty of the family of Muʿaybid?

Whence can I deny the merit of the family of Mu'aybid

Certainly not! The family of Muʿaybid is family to me.

Nay, the family of Mu'aybid are my family

قومي الذين بهم أطول وإن سعى

قومي الذين بهم أطول وإن سعى

فيَّ السعاة وأكثر العذّالُ

فيَّ السعاة وأكثر العذّالُ

My people, through whom I stand tall, even if plots are laid

A people, though the ambitious vie with me

Against me by slanderers, and reproachers heap up blame.

And the slanderers abound

وإذا هُضمتُ فظلّهم لي معقل

وإذا هُضمتُ فظلّهم لي معقل

وإذا افتقرت فما لهم لي مالُ

وإذا افتقرت فما لهم لي مالُ

And when I am wronged, their shade is a stronghold for me.

When oppressed, their protection is my refuge

And when I grow poor, what they possess is wealth for me.

When needy, their wealth is mine