لَقينا يَومَ صَهباءٍ سَرِيَّه

حَناظِلَةً لَهُم في الحَربِ نِيَّه

We met on a dusty day, a small raiding party

Eager for battle against them in the fray

لَقيناهُم بِأَسيافٍ حِدادٍ

وَأُسدٍ لا تَفِرُّ مِنَ المَنِيَّه

We met them with sharp iron swords

And lions who never flee the battleground

وَكانَ زَعيمُهُم إِذ ذاكَ لَيثاً

هِزَبراً لا يُبالي بِالرَزِيَّه

Their chief was at that time a fierce lion

A veteran who cared not for calamity

فَخَلَّفناهُ وَسطَ القاعِ مُلقىً

وَها أَنا طالِبٌ قَتلَ البَقِيَّه

We left him lying in the middle of the field

And here I am, seeking to kill the rest

وَرُحنا بِالسُيوفِ نَسوقُ فيهِم

إِلى رَبَواتِ مُعضِلَةٍ خَفِيَّه

We went with our swords driving into them

To the folds of intricate hidden valleys

وَكَم مِن فارِسٍ مِنهُم تَرَكنا

عَلَيهِ مِن صَوارِمِنا قَضِيَّه

And how many cavaliers among them did we leave

Slain by our swords that stab and pierce

فَوارِسُنا بَنو عَبسٍ وَإِنّا

لُيوثُ الحَربِ ما بَينَ البَرِيَّه

Our horsemen are the Bani Abs and we

Are the battle lions amongst the nomads

نُجيدُ الطَعنَ بِالسُمرِ العَوالي

وَنَضرِبُ بِالسُيوفِ المَشرَفِيَّه

We excel at spearing with tall lances

And striking with our raised swords

وَنُنعِلُ خَيلَنا في كُلِّ حَربٍ

مِنَ الساداتِ أَقحافاً دَمِيَّه

We shoe our steeds in every battle

With the bloodied forelocks of noblemen

وَيَومَ البَذلِ نُعطي ما مَلَكنا

مِنَ الأَموالِ وَالنِعَمِ البَهِيَّه

And on the day of giving, we grant what we own

Of wealth and the most radiant blessings

وَنَحنُ العادِلونَ إِذا حَكَمنا

وَنَحنُ المُشفِقونَ عَلى الرَعِيَّه

We are the just ones when we judge

And we care for the commoners

وَنَحنُ المُنصِفونَ إِذا دُعينا

إِلى طَعنِ الرِماحِ السَمهَرِيَّه

We are the equitable ones when called

To thrust with spears that pierce and spill blood

وَنَحنُ الغالِبونَ إِذا حَمَلنا

عَلى الخَيلِ الجِيادِ الأَعوَجِيَّه

We are the victors when we charge

With the nimble-bodied limping horses

وَنَحنُ الموقِدونَ لِكُلِّ حَربٍ

وَنَصلاها بِأَفئِدَةٍ جَرِيَّه

And we are the ones who ignite every battle

And urge it on with ardent hearts

مَلَأنا الأَرضَ خَوفاً مِن سَطانا

وَهابَتنا المُلوكُ الكِسرَوِيَّه

We filled the land with awe of our rule

And made even Kisra's kings fearful

سَلوا عَنّا دِيارَ الشامِ طُرّاً

وَفُرسانَ المُلوكِ القَيصَرِيَّه

Ask the Levant about us and

The horsemen of Caesar's royal court

أَنا العَبدُ الَّذي بِدِيارِ عَبسٍ

رَبيتُ بِعِزَّةِ النَفسِ الأَبِيَّه

I am the servant raised in the land of Abs

With a spirit of self-pride and dignity

سَلوا النُعمانَ عَنّي يَومَ جاءَت

فَوارِسُ عُصبَةِ النارِ الحَمِيَّه

Ask al-Nu'man about me the day

The cavaliers of the burning alliance came

أَقَمتُ بِصارِمي سوقَ المَنايا

وَنِلتُ بِذابِلي الرُتَبَ العَلِيَّه

I set up the market of death with my sword

And attained by my demise the highest titles