بنى ثعلبة هُبّوا

فإنّ الليثَ قد عَزَمَا

The tribe of Tha'labah, come forth,

For the lion has resolved to attack.

رماكم بابن حارثةٍ

رسولُ اللهِ حِينَ رَمَى

You were struck by the son of Harithah -

The Messenger of God when he shot his arrows.

زعمتم أنه هو زَعْ

مَ من يَهْذِي وما عَلِما

You claimed he was lost and confused,

Not knowing which way to go.

فَطَارَتْ قَبلَ مَقدمِهِ

نفوسٌ أُشعِرتْ لَمَمَا

Souls took flight before his vanguard,

Inflamed with anxiety and alarm.

ونِعمَ أخو الوغَى زيدٌ

إذا ما جَدَّ فَاقْتَحَما

How excellent a brother of battle is Zaid,

When serious, he charges ahead.

يَخوضُ النّقعَ مُرتَكماً

ويَحمِي السيفَ والعَلَمَا

He attacks the pool recklessly,

Protecting his sword and banner.

تَولَّى جَمعُهُم فَرَقاً

ولَو لاقاهُ ما سلما

Their group turned and fled, scattered,

And had they met him, they wouldn't have survived.

لَبِئْسَ الجمعُ ما صَدَقَتْ

قُواهُ وبئسَ ما زَعَما

How wretched the group whose strength

Betrayed them, and wretched what they claimed!

تلمَّسَهُ ابنُ حارثةٍ

فلا صَدَدَاً ولا أَمَمَا

The son of Harithah felt for him

But found no trace or track.

تَسَرَّبَ في مَخابِئِهِ

فكان وُجُودُه عَدَما

He crept into his hiding places

So that his existence was as if naught.

هَلُمَّ هَلُمَّ يا زيدٌ

هَلُمَّ الشاءَ والنَعَمَا

Come, come O Zaid!

Come with the sheep and goats!

رُوَيْدَ القومِ هل طلبوا

سِوَى ما يُعجِزُ الهِمَمَا

Hold back, people! Did they seek

Aught but what frustrates aspirations?

مَضُوا في إثرِهِ ومَضَى

يَجُرُّ حُسامَه قُدُما

They went after him while he went on,

Dragging his sword ahead.

فما بَلغُوه إذ جَهَدوا

ولا رَزأُوهُ ما غَنِمَا

They did not catch him though they struggled,

Nor did they gain any spoils.

رُوَيْداً عابِدِي الأَصْنا

مِ إنّ اللهَ قد حَكَما

Hold back, worshipers of idols!

For God has judged.

رَضِيتُمْ ظُلمَ أَنْفُسِكُمْ

فأَرْدَاكُمُ وما ظَلَمَا

You were content with oppressing yourselves,

So He punished you when you did no wrong.