لي في الفصاحة حكمةٌ وبيانُ

لي في الفصاحة حكمةٌ وبيانُ

وبلاغة لم يحوِها لقمانُ

وبلاغة لم يحوِها لقمانُ

I possess wisdom and clear expression in eloquence,

I have wisdom and eloquence,

And a rhetorical mastery that Luqman did not possess.

And rhetoric unmatched by Luqman.

ما الغرُّ مثلُ معاجم أيامهُ

ما الغرُّ مثلُ معاجم أيامهُ

ومحبَّك عرفت بهِ الأزمانُ

ومحبَّك عرفت بهِ الأزمانُ

The inexperienced man is not like one who has tested his days,

How strange are the lexicons of his time,

Nor a firmly knit man through whom the ages are understood.

While your lover made eras recognize him.

مارستُ أحداث الزمان ومارست

مارستُ أحداث الزمان ومارست

مني محكاً لم يبِدِه قرانُ

مني محكاً لم يبِدِه قرانُ

I have grappled with time's happenings, and they have tested

I have experienced the events of time, and time

A touchstone in me that no encounter has destroyed.

Has tested me with a touchstone unmatched by epochs.

كم قد عرفتُ الأمر قبل وقوعه

كم قد عرفتُ الأمر قبل وقوعه

فكذاك جاءَ وهكذا الأذهانُ

فكذاك جاءَ وهكذا الأذهانُ

How often I have known a matter before it occurred;

How often did I know the matter before its occurrence!

And so it came to pass—such are discerning minds.

Thus it happened, and so did minds comprehend.

مازلت أزجرُ طَرف كل مغَّيبٍ

مازلت أزجرُ طَرف كل مغَّيبٍ

حتى يلوحَ بوفقهِ العنوانُ

حتى يلوحَ بوفقهِ العنوانُ

I have kept divining the edges of every hidden thing,

I still restrain the glance of every disappearing one,

Until its outward sign appears in keeping with it.

Until hope appears on his horizon.

وأرى على صفحات وجه مخاطبي

وأرى على صفحات وجه مخاطبي

ما قدْ تضمنَّه لي الكتمانُ

ما قدْ تضمنَّه لي الكتمانُ

And I see upon the pages of my interlocutor's face

And I see on the pages of my addressee's face

What concealment has held in store for me.

What concealment had included for me.

والألمعيُّ جرى بمقلةِ قلبهِ

والألمعيُّ جرى بمقلةِ قلبهِ

مالستقبلتهُ بخطبه الأحيانُ

مالستقبلتهُ بخطبه الأحيانُ

The discerning man has raced ahead with his heart's eye

And the shining one let his heart's pen

Toward the calamity the passing times would bring him.

Flow with what future times had not received from his sermons.

وإذا دياجي الخطْب أسدل ثوُبها

وإذا دياجي الخطْب أسدل ثوُبها

أطلعت فجراً منه ليس يرانُ

أطلعت فجراً منه ليس يرانُ

And when calamity's darkness lets down its robe,

And if the attire of my sermons lowers its garb,

I bring forth from it a dawn that is never veiled.

It brings forth a dawn that cannot be seen.

جرّبت من ريب الزمان وصرفهِ

جرّبت من ريب الزمان وصرفهِ

ما لم يجرب مثله سلطانُ

ما لم يجرب مثله سلطانُ

I have experienced time's vicissitudes and reversals,

I have experienced from the wickedness of time and its vicissitudes

Such as no ruler has experienced the like of.

What no sultan has undergone the like of.

قلبت ناصبة الخطوب وخضت في

قلبت ناصبة الخطوب وخضت في

بحر التجارب والهجان هجانُ

بحر التجارب والهجان هجانُ

I have turned over taxing calamities and plunged into

I have overturned the structures of sorrows and delved into

The sea of trials; a thoroughbred remains a thoroughbred.

The sea of tribulations and perils—peril upon peril.

وعَمَرت صدعةَ كل شر مضمرٍ

وعَمَرت صدعةَ كل شر مضمرٍ

حتى أضاء بأفقهِ التّبيانُ

حتى أضاء بأفقهِ التّبيانُ

And I have filled the fissure of every hidden evil,

And I have filled the crevasse of every hidden evil

Until clarity shone upon its horizon.

Until the dawn of elucidation shone from its horizon.

شيَم خُصصتُ بهنّ مُذ أنا يافع

شيَم خُصصتُ بهنّ مُذ أنا يافع

من قادرٍ لم يخلُ منهُ مكانُ

من قادرٍ لم يخلُ منهُ مكانُ

Traits with which I was specially endowed since my youth,

Attributes I have been exclusively endowed with since my prime

By One Almighty, of whom no place is devoid.

By an Able One from whom no place is devoid.

فإذا قرضت فما زهير وطرفة

فإذا قرضت فما زهير وطرفة

وإذا نطقت فما الفتى سحبانُ

وإذا نطقت فما الفتى سحبانُ

When I compose verse, what are Zuhayr and Tarafah?

Thus, when I compose poetry, I am no Zuhayr or Tarafa,

And when I speak, what is the young man Sahban?

And when I speak, I am no youthful Suhban.

ولقد جرَين على لساني وُثَّباً

ولقد جرَين على لساني وُثَّباً

جري الأتيّ رمت به الأقرانُ

جري الأتيّ رمت به الأقرانُ

Indeed, they have raced in leaps upon my tongue,

And flowing prose has coursed upon my tongue

Like an incoming torrent hurled down by the peaks.

Like the running of a beloved prey chased by hunting companions.

والعقلُ رأس الفضل غيرُ مشارك

والعقلُ رأس الفضل غيرُ مشارك

وبه لعمرك يُعرف الرحمانُ

وبه لعمرك يُعرف الرحمانُ

Intellect is the foremost virtue, without an equal;

And the mind is the pinnacle of virtue without participation,

Through it, by your life, the All-Merciful is known.

And through it, by your life, the Merciful is known.

لا تحسُدنَّ أخا البلادة عظمةً

لا تحسُدنَّ أخا البلادة عظمةً

فالعقلُ يغني عنكَ لا الجثمانُ

فالعقلُ يغني عنكَ لا الجثمانُ

Do not envy a dull-witted man his greatness;

Do not envy, my oblivious brother, an ignorant man his loftiness,

For intellect serves you, not the body.

For the mind suffices you—not the body.

والعقلُ بَعل للحياةِ ومنهما

والعقلُ بَعل للحياةِ ومنهما

نُتجَ الجمال ووُلد الإيمانُ

نُتجَ الجمال ووُلد الإيمانُ

Intellect is life's husband, and from them both

And the mind is the husband of life, and from the two of them

Beauty was brought forth, and faith was born.

Beauty is brought forth, and faith is born.

ولطالما منعَ الكريمَ حياؤهُ

ولطالما منعَ الكريمَ حياؤهُ

عَّما يرومُ بفعله الإنسانُ

عَّما يرومُ بفعله الإنسانُ

How often a noble man's modesty has kept him

And oftentimes, one's bashfulness prevents him

From what a person seeks through his deeds.

From that which man intends to do.

فاحفظ حياءك لا تبّددْ ماءَهُ

فاحفظ حياءك لا تبّددْ ماءَهُ

إنَّ المريقَ لمائه خَسرانُ

إنَّ المريقَ لمائه خَسرانُ

So guard your modesty; do not squander its water:

So guard your bashfulness—do not waste its waters—

The one who spills its water is at a loss.

For one who sheds its waters is lost.

ذلَّ امرءُ غبط الذليل بنعمةٍ

ذلَّ امرءُ غبط الذليل بنعمةٍ

أخواه فيها ذلة وهوانُ

أخواه فيها ذلة وهوانُ

Abased is the man who envies an abject man a blessing;

A man abased when fortune favors his brothers

His two brothers in it are abasement and humiliation.

Is abject, disgraced, and lowly.

لا تغبطنَّ سوى شجاعٍ باسل

لا تغبطنَّ سوى شجاعٍ باسل

خضعتْ لشدَّةِ بأسه الشجعانُ

خضعتْ لشدَّةِ بأسه الشجعانُ

Envy none but a valiant, courageous man

Do not envy save a courageous hero

To whose fierce might the brave have bowed,

Whose might fierce warriors have surrendered to.

أو مُنعِمٍ بارى الرياحَ مواهباً

أو مُنعِمٍ بارى الرياحَ مواهباً

ولديه ذُمَّ العارض الهَّتانُ

ولديه ذُمَّ العارض الهَّتانُ

Or a benefactor whose gifts rival the winds,

Or a benefactor who has sown the winds his gifts

Before whom the pouring raincloud is disparaged.

While having the blame of the fickle and deviant.

لا حمْدَ إلا لامرئ متطولٍ

لا حمْدَ إلا لامرئ متطولٍ

بذلَ اللُّها والعرضُ منه مصانُ

بذلَ اللُّها والعرضُ منه مصانُ

There is no praise except for a man of bounty

There is no praise except for a man of great integrity

Who gives riches while his honor remains protected.

Who gives possessions while honor is protected from him.

وإذا الكريمُ كبت به أيامه

وإذا الكريمُ كبت به أيامه

رفضته رفضَ الاجرب الإِخوانُ

رفضته رفضَ الاجرب الإِخوانُ

And when a noble man's days bring him low,

And when days oppress a noble man,

His brothers reject him as they would a mangy man.

His brothers reject him like an alien rejects his brothers.

والناس اعوان القويّ لذاته

والناس اعوان القويّ لذاته

وهمُ عليه إذا هوى اعوانُ

وهمُ عليه إذا هوى اعوانُ

People are helpers of the strong man for his own sake,

And people are assistants to the strong one by himself,

And when he falls, they are helpers against him.

And are his supporters if he falls.

والمرتدي بالَّلومِ لم يرجح له

والمرتدي بالَّلومِ لم يرجح له

في الحمد لو ملك الورى ميزانُ

في الحمد لو ملك الورى ميزانُ

For the man clothed in blame, no balance will tip

And one who wears the garment of blame—

Toward praise, even if he possessed all mankind.

If he owned the world's scale, it would not weigh in his favor for praise.

لا تشمتنَّ رديَّ قومٍ غالهم

لا تشمتنَّ رديَّ قومٍ غالهم

صرف الردى وكما تدينُ تدانُ

صرف الردى وكما تدينُ تدانُ

Do not gloat over the fallen of a people whom

Do not gloat at the misery of a people overcome

Death's vicissitudes have struck: as you deal, so you are dealt with.

By the vicissitudes of misery—for as you judge, you will be judged.

لا يخدعنك للعذول خضوعُه

لا يخدعنك للعذول خضوعُه

فخضوعه لمكيدةٍ برهانُ

فخضوعه لمكيدةٍ برهانُ

Let not the faultfinder's submissiveness deceive you;

Do not be fooled by the humility of the crafty one,

His submission is proof of a plot.

For his humility is a clever trick.

لو أظفرته يد المقادر لمحةً

لو أظفرته يد المقادر لمحةً

بكَ لو يردَّ مراسه الإحسانُ

بكَ لو يردَّ مراسه الإحسانُ

Were the hand of fate to let him prevail for a moment

If the hand of fate empowered him over you a moment,

Over you—if kindness could curb his aggression [wording unclear].

He would reject the stirrup of kindness if it returned to you.

واعذُر إذا اعتذر الصديقُ لزلةٍ

واعذُر إذا اعتذر الصديقُ لزلةٍ

فقبول عذرِ أخي الوَفا إيمانُ

فقبول عذرِ أخي الوَفا إيمانُ

And pardon your friend when he apologizes for a slip;

And accept the apology if a friend apologizes for a slip—

Accepting a faithful brother's excuse is faith.

For to accept the excuse of a brother is faith.

واخفِضْ جناحكَ للرَّعية لاطفاً

واخفِضْ جناحكَ للرَّعية لاطفاً

بهمْ يعنكَ بلطفه الدَّيانُ

بهمْ يعنكَ بلطفه الدَّيانُ

And lower your wing to your subjects, showing kindness

And fold your wing humbly for the commoners,

To them; the Judge will aid you through His kindness.

So the Compeller aids you by His gentleness.

وارمِ الطغاةَ بدردبيسٍ صَّمةٍ

وارمِ الطغاةَ بدردبيسٍ صَّمةٍ

لم يلقَ منها عن أولاك عيانُ

لم يلقَ منها عن أولاك عيانُ

Hurl at the tyrants a dire, crushing calamity,

And pelt the tyrants with a barrage of deafness

Such as no eye has seen among those men [wording unclear].

From which their eyes will find no relief from it.

ما قادرٌ من لم يعنه جنانه

ما قادرٌ من لم يعنه جنانه

ما ناكص من لم يجبه جبانُ

ما ناكص من لم يجبه جبانُ

No man is capable whose heart does not aid him;

One who is not helped by his wings

No man retreats unless a coward rebuffs him.

Cannot recoil—one who is not faced by cowards is no coward.

واغزُ العدوَّ فما غُزي في دارهم

واغزُ العدوَّ فما غُزي في دارهم

قومٌ فقامَ لعزِّهم أركانُ

قومٌ فقامَ لعزِّهم أركانُ

And raid the enemy: no people have been invaded in their own land

And attack the enemy—a people have not been attacked in their homes

And still had pillars standing to uphold their might.

And pillars of might stood up for their honor.

وإذا الفتى لم يغزُ يوماً خصمه

وإذا الفتى لم يغزُ يوماً خصمه

يُغزى ويهدم حوضُه ويهانُ

يُغزى ويهدم حوضُه ويهانُ

And if a man never attacks his foe,

And when a warrior does not attack his foe one day,

He is attacked, his watering-place destroyed, and he is humiliated.

He will be attacked, his courtyard destroyed, and disgraced.

لم تحوِ حقَّكَ بالمزاحِ فإنما

لم تحوِ حقَّكَ بالمزاحِ فإنما

بالجَدِّ يحوي حقه الطعَّانُ

بالجَدِّ يحوي حقه الطعَّانُ

You do not secure your rights by jesting, for only

You do not gain your right with jest—rather

Through earnestness does the spearman secure his rights.

The serious gain their right from the critic.

وإذا تدانى الجحفلان فلا تكن

وإذا تدانى الجحفلان فلا تكن

دَهشاً يرتعُك للسَّعير دخانُ

دَهشاً يرتعُك للسَّعير دخانُ

And when the two great armies draw near, do not be

And when the two armies draw near, do not be

Dazed, frightened by smoke from the blaze.

Dazed so the blaze of Hellfire stuns you.

وإذا ضربت فعضَّ عضَّةَ كادمٍ

وإذا ضربت فعضَّ عضَّةَ كادمٍ

ليفي عليك السيف وهو جبانُ

ليفي عليك السيف وهو جبانُ

And when you strike, bite down with a biter's bite,

And when you strike, bite with the bite of a biter

So the sword may serve you fully, though it is timid.

So the sword will be loyal to you while it is a coward.

وإذا طعنتَ فألقِ نفسكَ عندها

وإذا طعنتَ فألقِ نفسكَ عندها

حتى يثورَ بطعنها الخُرصانُ

حتى يثورَ بطعنها الخُرصانُ

And when you thrust, throw yourself into it,

And when you stab, throw yourself in the moment

Until the spears surge with that thrust.

Until its stabbing excites the horses.

وإذا تقاربتِ الكماة فلا تخمْ

وإذا تقاربتِ الكماة فلا تخمْ

قدَماً فيقدم مثله الأقرانُ

قدَماً فيقدم مثله الأقرانُ

When armored warriors close in, do not retreat

And when the two forces approach, do not step

A step, lest your opponents advance as much.

A foot, or else the steeds will step like you.

إن الذي يلقاك مثلك فارساً

إن الذي يلقاك مثلك فارساً

أو راحلاً ومعَ السَّنان سنانُ

أو راحلاً ومعَ السَّنان سنانُ

The man who meets you is like you, whether mounted

For the one who meets you as a horseman

Or traveling; spearpoint faces spearpoint.

Or a rider with the spear—and spear to spear!

قَلْقِلْ حسامك قبل أن تستلَّهُ

قَلْقِلْ حسامك قبل أن تستلَّهُ

في الغمد كي يتنبَّهَ الوسنانُ

في الغمد كي يتنبَّهَ الوسنانُ

Rattle your keen blade before drawing it,

Shake your sword before drawing it

Within its sheath, so that the drowsy man awakens.

From the scabbard, so the swordsman is alert.

واغضضْ بطرفك بعدما ترمي به

واغضضْ بطرفك بعدما ترمي به

أقصى الكتيبةَ فالكميُّ معان

أقصى الكتيبةَ فالكميُّ معان

And lower your gaze after you have cast it

And glance with your eyes after you shoot

To the battalion's farthest edge, for the armored warrior is aided.

The furthest battalions—for the shooter is aiming.

واضْربْ إذا أمكنت هَبراً راسيا

واضْربْ إذا أمكنت هَبراً راسيا

فالهَبر لا تثبت له الأبدان

فالهَبر لا تثبت له الأبدان

And when you can, strike a firm, cleaving blow;

And strike the neck if you are able

Bodies cannot withstand such cleaving.

For the neck cannot sustain bodies.

واطعن إذا ما شئت شَزراً نافذاً

واطعن إذا ما شئت شَزراً نافذاً

فالشَّزر أنجح إِذ يعدُّ طعانُ

فالشَّزر أنجح إِذ يعدُّ طعانُ

And whenever you wish, thrust obliquely, piercing through;

And stab with penetrating flechettes if you wish

An oblique thrust is more effective when thrusts are reckoned.

For flechettes are more successful when a stabber stabs.

واكفُف جيوشك ثم إن يتنازعوا

واكفُف جيوشك ثم إن يتنازعوا

أمْراً فيذهب أمرهم ويهانوا

أمْراً فيذهب أمرهم ويهانوا

And restrain your troops; then, if they dispute

Then curb your armies if they dispute

A matter, their power will vanish, and they will be humbled.

A matter, so their affair will fail and they will be disgraced.

وإذا أماتوا في الوغى أصواتهم

وإذا أماتوا في الوغى أصواتهم

لم يفشلوا وبذا أتى القرآنُ

لم يفشلوا وبذا أتى القرآنُ

When they silence their voices in battle,

And if they mute their voices in the fray,

They do not falter; thus has the Quran spoken.

They will not fail—thus did the Qur’an come.

واعلم بأنَّ النصر يبعثه الذي

واعلم بأنَّ النصر يبعثه الذي

سجدت له في لجّها الحيتانُ

سجدت له في لجّها الحيتانُ

And know that victory is sent by Him

And know that victory is brought by Him

To whom the fish have bowed in the sea's depths.

To whom the whales prostrated in their swelling seas.

يا خائضَ الغمَرات اعمل بالذي

يا خائضَ الغمَرات اعمل بالذي

قد قلته تخضعْ لك الفرسانُ

قد قلته تخضعْ لك الفرسانُ

O you who plunge into perils, act upon what

O you who wades into the deep waters, act upon what

I have said, and horsemen will bow to you.

I have said, so the horsemen will submit to you.

وأنا ابن نبهان بن كيكرب بن َمن

وأنا ابن نبهان بن كيكرب بن َمن

راش الأنامَ ومن له الإِحسانُ

راش الأنامَ ومن له الإِحسانُ

And I am the son of Nabhan, son of Kaykarib, son of one

I am the son of Nabhan the son of Kaykarib the son of the one

Who enriched mankind, and to whom beneficence belongs.

Who ruled the people and who has favor.

أغشى الوقيعة وهي بكر عابس

أغشى الوقيعة وهي بكر عابس

واعلُّ والحرب الزَّبون عَوانُ

واعلُّ والحرب الزَّبون عَوانُ

I enter the battle while it is a frowning maiden,

I have suppressed al-Wa'iqa while she was a sullen virgin,

And take another draught when the kicking war is a matron.

And I have built the highest rank’s staircase—and war is wanton.

ومدجَّج شهمِ الجنان تركتُه

ومدجَّج شهمِ الجنان تركتُه

ملقىً تنازع شلوه العِقبانُ

ملقىً تنازع شلوه العِقبانُ

And a mail-clad warrior, stout of heart, I have left

And I left the stalwart lions, thrown about,

Cast down, with eagles contending over his torn body.

Prey for the vultures’ necks to pick at.

وفوارس ثُبتِ القلوب هزمتها

وفوارس ثُبتِ القلوب هزمتها

فكأنها بفرارِها الظلمانُ

فكأنها بفرارِها الظلمانُ

And steady-hearted horsemen I have routed,

And I have defeated cavaliers of resolute hearts,

Till in their flight they seemed like male ostriches.

So it was as if their flight were the darkness of night.

ومواهبٍ تجْلي الهُمومَ وهبَتهُا

ومواهبٍ تجْلي الهُمومَ وهبَتهُا

إذْ لا يُقال سِوايَ جادَ فُلانُ

إذْ لا يُقال سِوايَ جادَ فُلانُ

And gifts that dispel cares I have bestowed,

And gifts that remove worries—I have granted them—

For of none but me is it said, 'So-and-so gave generously.'

For none can say "So-and-so was generous" but me.

من مَعْشَر سُدلِ الاكفّ تنالهم

من مَعْشَر سُدلِ الاكفّ تنالهم

خِططَ الفَخار أبوهم قَحْطانُ

خِططَ الفَخار أبوهم قَحْطانُ

From a people with freely extended hands, whom

From a people who lowered the shoulders they are attained by

The stations of glory reach; their forefather is Qahtan.

The plots of disgrace which their father Qahtan knew.

نَهَب الجِيادَ على الثَّناءِ لِعِلمِنا

نَهَب الجِيادَ على الثَّناءِ لِعِلمِنا

أنَّ الثَّناءَ لخيلنا اثمانُ

أنَّ الثَّناءَ لخيلنا اثمانُ

We give fine steeds in return for praise, for we know

The steeds have taken freely to praising our knowledge

That praise is the price of our horses.

That praise belongs only to our horses and their price.

مَنْ ذالهَ العزُّ المُؤثَّل غَيرنا

مَنْ ذالهَ العزُّ المُؤثَّل غَيرنا

أمْ مَنْ لَه الأتخات والتيجان

أمْ مَنْ لَه الأتخات والتيجان

Who but us possesses this deep-rooted glory?

Other than us, whom has abundant honor that wields power altered?

Or who possesses the thrones and crowns?

Or who possesses crowns and tiaras?

فَلنَا المَمالك والمراتِب والعُلى

فَلنَا المَمالك والمراتِب والعُلى

والفَضل قدْ عَلمتْ بنا عدنان

والفَضل قدْ عَلمتْ بنا عدنان

Ours are kingdoms, ranks, and lofty heights,

For us are the kingdoms, positions, and ascendancy,

And excellence, which Adnan has recognized in us.

And preeminence—Adnan knew our merit.

كرماً ارثنا للفخارِ مظفَّرٌ

كرماً ارثنا للفخارِ مظفَّرٌ

وبنى لنا درج العلى نبهانُ

وبنى لنا درج العلى نبهانُ

Muzaffar bequeathed us nobility for glory,

Honor we inherited—victorious for glory—

And Nabhan built for us the stairway to the heights.

And Nabhan built for us the staircase to ascendancy.

واخصنا ذو التاج حمير تاجَه

واخصنا ذو التاج حمير تاجَه

دون الملوك ونجلُه كهلانُ

دون الملوك ونجلُه كهلانُ

And crown-bearing Himyar singled us out for his crown,

And the crowned one singled us out, O people of Hamir,

Rather than the kings—and so did his son Kahlan.

Apart from kings, and his son Kahlân.