صَبا قَلبي إِلى زَمَنِ التَصابي

وَأَبكاني المَشيبُ عَلى الشَبابِ

My heart yearns for the time of youth

And gray hair makes me weep for my youth

وَفي قَلبي شِهابُ أَسىً وَوَجدٍ

زَكيٌّ مِن فَتاةِ بَني شِهابِ

In my heart there is a flaming agony and passion

Pure, from a maiden of the Bani Shihab tribe

تُعَذِّبُني وَتَعلَمُ أَنَّ قَلبي

يَهيمُ إِلى مَراشِفِها العِذابِ

She tortures me and knows that my heart

Yearns desperately for her torment

سَقَت دِيَمُ الرَبابِ إِذا اِستَهَلَّت

دِياراً مِن سُلَيمى وَالرَبابِ

The rainclouds watered the land

When they arrived from Suleim and Al-Rabab

وَلازالَت جَنوبُ الرِيحِ تُهدي

سَلاماً نَحوَ حَيِّ بَني جَنابِ

And the southern winds still convey

Greetings to the quarter of Bani Janab

أَعاتِبَتي عَلى كَسبِ المَعالي

رُوَيدَكِ لا أَبالَكِ مِن عِتابي

You reproach me for seeking glory

Slow down, do not blame me

فَإِنّي قَد كَسَبتُ جَميلَ ذِكرٍ

وَهَبتُ لَهُ مِنَ المالِ اِكتِسابي

For I have earned good repute

And devoted my wealth to gain it

وَعَلَّمَني المُرُوَّةَ مِن نَداهُ

أَبو العُلوانِ تاجُ بَني كِلابِ

Abu Al-Ulwan, crown of Bani Kilab

Taught me chivalry from his support

كَريمٌ ما نَظَرتُ إِلَيهِ إِلّا

نَظَرتُ إِلى الغِنى مِن كُلِّ بابِ

Noble one, whenever I looked at him

I saw riches from every side

أَمَولايَ الَّذي يُغني وَأُثني

فَذَلِكَ دابُهُ وَالشُكرُ دابي

My wealth that enriches me and I praise

That is its merit and my praise its merit

أُطِيلُ لَكَ الثَناءَ فَما أُحاشي

وَأَمنَحُكَ الوِدادَ فَما أُحابي

I prolong praise for you and do not refrain

And grant you affection without restraint

كَثيرٌ حاسِدي سَهلٌ مَرامي

مَنيعٌ جانِبي خَضِلٌ جَنابي

Many are my envious enemies, smooth are my aspirations

Impregnable my flanks, strong my shoulders