نَحنُwe بِغَرسِat planting الوَدِيِّthe date-palm shoots أَعلَمُناwe are more knowledgeable
نَحنُ بِغَرسِ الوَدِيِّ أَعلَمُنا
مِنّاthan we are بِرَكضِat galloping الجِيادِthe steeds فيin السَدَفِthe darkness
مِنّا بِرَكضِ الجِيادِ في السَدَفِ
We are better versed in planting date-palm shoots
Than in galloping steeds through the darkness.
ياO لَهفَanguish نَفسيmy soul وَكَيفَand how أَطعَنُهُI spear him
يا لَهفَ نَفسي وَكَيفَ أَطعَنُهُ
مُستَمسِكاًclinging tightly وَاليَدانِand both hands فيin العُرُفِthe mane
مُستَمسِكاً وَاليَدانِ في العُرُفِ
Alas for my soul! How can I spear him,
Clinging tight, with both hands in the mane?
قَدalready كُنتُI was أَدرَكتُهُI caught up with him فَأَدرَكَنيthen he caught up with me
قَد كُنتُ أَدرَكتُهُ فَأَدرَكَني
لِلصَيدِat hunting عُرفٌan expert مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa band عُنُفِfierce
لِلصَيدِ عُرفٌ مِن مَعشَرٍ عُنُفِ
I had caught up with him, but was then overtaken
By an expert in the chase from a fierce band.
Sol 6.1