أَزاداً سِوى يَحيى تُريدُ وَصاحِباً

أَزاداً سِوى يَحيى تُريدُ وَصاحِباً

أَلا إِنَّ يَحيى نِعمَ زادِ المُسافِرِ

أَلا إِنَّ يَحيى نِعمَ زادِ المُسافِرِ

Do you seek provisions and a companion other than Yahya?

You wish for a companion other than Yahya

Behold, Yahya is indeed excellent provision for the traveler.

But no! Yahya is excellent company for the traveler

فَما تَأمَنُ الوَجناءُ وَقعَةَ سَيفِهِ

فَما تَأمَنُ الوَجناءُ وَقعَةَ سَيفِهِ

إِذا أَنفَضوا أَو خَفَّ ما في الغَرائِرِ

إِذا أَنفَضوا أَو خَفَّ ما في الغَرائِرِ

For the sturdy she-camel is not safe from the stroke of his sword

So the enemy does not feel safe from his sword

When they run out of provisions, or what is in the sacks grows scant.

When they attack or when there is less in the saddlebags

وَما مِن فَتىً حَيٍّ بِيَحيى أَبيعُهُ

وَما مِن فَتىً حَيٍّ بِيَحيى أَبيعُهُ

بِلا فاجِرِ الدُنيا وَلا غَيرِ فاجِرِ

بِلا فاجِرِ الدُنيا وَلا غَيرِ فاجِرِ

And there is no young man alive for whom I would trade Yahya—

And I would not sell Yahya, that noble man

Neither a wicked man of this world nor one who is not wicked.

For any sum from an evildoer or anyone else dishonest