لَعَمري لَقَد أَوفى الَجَوادُ اِبنُ عاصِمٍ

وَأَحصَنَ جاراً يَومَ يَحدِجُ بَكرَه

By my life! The generous man, son of 'Asim, has fulfilled his duty,

And protected a neighbor on the day his young camels bellowed.

أَقامَ عَزيزاً مُنتَدى القَومِ عِندَهُ

فَلَم يَرَ سَوءاتٍ وَلَم يَخشَ غَدرَه

He set up a glorious gathering in his abode,

Where he saw no evil, nor feared any treachery.

أَقام بِسَعدٍ يَشرَبُ الماءَ آمِناً

وَيَأكُلُ وُسطاها وَيَربِضُ حَجرَه

He dwelt in prosperity, drinking water in security,

Eating in its midst, and spreading out his encampment.

فَإِنَّكَ إِذ بادَلتَ قَيسَ بنَ عاصِمٍ

جُوَيناً لَمُختارُ المَنازِلِ شَرَّه

For when you exchanged Qais, son of 'Asim,

For the vile Juwayn, an evil substitution it was!

فَأَصبَحَ يَحدو رَحلَهُ بِمَفازَةٍ

وَماذا عَدا جاراً كَريماً وَأُسرَه

He set out at dawn, leading his she-camels through the barren land.

What but a noble kinsman and his family has he left behind?

يَظَلُّ بِأَرضِ الغَدرِ يَأكُل عَهدَهُ

جُوَينٌ وَشَمخٌ خارِبَينِ بِوَجرَه

He remains in the land of betrayal, devouring his sworn truce,

Juwayn and Shumukh, two ruinous in their sin.

يُذِمّانِ بِالأَزوادِ وَالزادُ مَحرَمٌ

سَروقانِ مِن عِرقٍ شَروراً وَفَجرَه

Blaming their provisions, though sustenance is forbidden;

Two thieves pilfering from a water-skin, evildoers in their pillage.