أَبى طولُ لَيلِكَ إِلّا سُهود

فَما إِن تَبينُ لِصُبحٍ عَمودا

The length of your night persisted in worship

Until pillars appeared for the morning dawn

أَبيتُ كَئيباً أُراعي النُجومَ

وَأُوجِعُ مِن ساعِدَيَّ الحَديدا

I remained sad, watching the stars

And my iron arms ached

أُرَجّي فَواضِلَ ذي بَهجَةٍ

مِنَ الناسِ يَجمَعُ حُزماً وَجودا

I hoped for the generous one, full of delight

Among the people, collecting resolve and munificence

نَمَتهُ إِمامَةُ وَالحارِثانِ

حَتّى تَمَهَّلَ سَبقاً جَديدا

His leadership grew, and Al-Harith's sons

Until he slowly gained new precedence

كَسَبقِ الجَوادِ غَداةَ الرِهانِ

أَربى عَلى السِنِّ شَأواً مَديدا

Like the lead of a steed on the day of betting

He nurtured lifelong glory

فَاِجمَع فِداءٌ لَكَ الوالِدانِ

لِما كُنتَ فينا بِخَيرٍ مُريدا

So gather ransom for your father and mother

For how you were among us, seeking good

فَتَجمَعُ نُعمى عَلى حاتِمٍ

وَتُحضِرُها مِن مَعَدٍّ شُهودا

And gather my bounty upon Hatem

And present it from a witnessing pillar

أَمِ الهُلكُ أَدنى فَما إِن عَلِمتُ

عَلَيَّ جُناحاً فَأَخشى الوَعيدا

Is death nearer, for I did not know

Any fault of mine, though I fear threats

فَأَحسِن فَلا عارَ فيما صَنَعتَ

تُحيِي جُدوداً وَتَبري جُدودا

So do good, no shame in what you have done

You give life to ancestors and absolve ancestors