بَنو تَميمٍ عَتاد الحَربِ قَد عَلِموا

وَالناهِضونَ إِذا فُرسانَها رِكِبوا

The tribe of Tamim, stalwart in war, are known

When their horsemen mount, rising to ride

وَالحامِلونَ إِذا ما أَزَمَة أَزمَت

فِعلَ العَشائِرِ إِن هَمّوا وَإِن ضَرَبوا

And the standard-bearers, when the crisis intensifies

Their clans’ deeds, whether they yearn or strike

وَالفاصِلونَ إِذا ما خُطَّة جَهِلَت

عِندَ الجُموعِ وَفيهِم تُفضَلُ الخُطَبُ

And the arbiters, when ignorance clouds an issue

Before the crowds, their speeches hold favor

وَالمانِعونَ مِنَ الأَعداءِ دارَهُم

عِندَ الهِياجِ إِذا ما اِهتَزَّت الطُنُبُ

And the defenders against the enemy of their homes

When the flames surge and the cooking-pots shake

وَالوارِدونَ عَلى كِسرى مَدائِنَهُ

قَسراً وَمِن دونِها بَحرٌ لَهُ لُجُبُ

And the raiders against the palaces of Kisra

By force, with a sea before them of billows

نَحوي نِهابَهُم وَالخَيلُ مُشعَلَةٌ

وَسَطَ الدِيارِ وَمِنها حَولَهُ عُصُبُ

I charge, their cavalry aflame

Amid the homesteads, and around him allies

شُعثٌ عَلَيها لُيوثُ ما يُجَمجِمُها

عِندَ الصِياحِ بَها عُجمٌ وَلا عَرَبُ

Disheveled warriors upon them like savage lions

When roaring amid their yelling, non-Arabs and Arabs alike

شَمسٌ بِأَيديهِم سُمرٌ مُثَقَّفَةٌ

وَكُلُّ عَضبٍ لَهُ في مَتنِهِ شَطَبُ

Swords in their hands like flickering lightning

And each raging warrior's thrust through his saddlecloth

إِذا جَلوها عَلى الأَعداءِ في فَزَعٍ

لاحَت كَأَنَّ عَلى أَيديهِم شُهُبُ

When they uncover them against the enemy in panic

They shine as if stars were in their hands