هَاجَكَstirred you مِنْfrom أَرْوَىArwa كَرَسِّa heap of الأَسْقَامْthe afflictions
هَاجَكَ مِنْ أَرْوَى كَرَسِّ الأَسْقَامْ
وَمَنْزِلٍand a dwelling بَالٍweathered كَخَطِّlike the strokes of الأَقْلامْthe pens
وَمَنْزِلٍ بَالٍ كَخَطِّ الأَقْلامْ
A heap of afflictions from Arwa stirred you,
You were troubled by one from the lush meadows of the diseased
and a weathered dwelling, like the strokes of pens.
And a home in ruins like the lines of pens
وَالدَهْرُand time يَهْوِيplunges بِالفَتَىwith the young man فِيthrough أَسْوامْchanging fortunes
وَالدَهْرُ يَهْوِي بِالفَتَى فِي أَسْوامْ
إِلَىtoward تَقَضِّيthe ending of أَجَلٍa lifespan أَوْor إِهْرامْold age
إِلَى تَقَضِّي أَجَلٍ أَوْ إِهْرامْ
Time plunges a young man through changing fortunes,
And fate makes the young man fall into abysses
until his allotted span expires or old age comes.
Until his predetermined death or perdition
وِمِنْand among عَناءِthe suffering of المَرْءِa person طُولُthe length of التَهْيَامْlove-crazed wandering
وِمِنْ عَناءِ المَرْءِ طُولُ التَهْيَامْ
وَبَلْدَةٍand a wilderness فِيamid ضَاحِلٍshallow mirage وَأَقْتامْand dusty gloom
وَبَلْدَةٍ فِي ضَاحِلٍ وَأَقْتامْ
Among a man's afflictions is prolonged, love-crazed wandering.
And from the toil of man, prolonging worries
And a wilderness amid shallow mirage and dusty gloom,
And a country on the coasts and darkness
عَلَىupon هَوَادِيهَاits approaches أُرُومُthe bases of الآرامْthe cairns
عَلَى هَوَادِيهَا أُرُومُ الآرامْ
خَوْصَاءَhollow-eyed تَرْمِيcasts رَكْبَهَاits riders بِالأَجْرَامْwith bodily shapes
خَوْصَاءَ تَرْمِي رَكْبَهَا بِالأَجْرَامْ
with the bases of cairns upon its approaches,
On its valleys the tents of Aram
a hollow-eyed waste, flinging bodily shapes at its riders,
A barren land where its rides are thrown with rocks
بَيْنَamong البَيَادِيthe deserts مِنْfrom صَدَاهاits owl الهَيَّامْwandering
بَيْنَ البَيَادِي مِنْ صَدَاها الهَيَّامْ
مِنْfrom صائِحِscreeching الهامِthe night-owls وَبُومand the owl of الأَبْوامْthe owls
مِنْ صائِحِ الهامِ وَبُوم الأَبْوامْ
among the deserts, from its wandering owl,
Between the deserts from its terrible howls
from shrieking night-owls and the owl of owls.
From the screams of beasts and hooting of owls
بادَرْتُI raced ahead of وِرْداًa watering flock مِنْof قَطَاهَاits sandgrouse النَأَّامْcalling
بادَرْتُ وِرْداً مِنْ قَطَاهَا النَأَّامْ
إِلَىtoward مُحِيلَاتِweathered المَسَاقِيwatering places أَسْدامْstagnant waters
إِلَى مُحِيلَاتِ المَسَاقِي أَسْدامْ
I raced ahead of a watering flock of its calling sandgrouse
I reached a stream from its sleeping springs
toward weathered watering places, their waters stagnant,
To the diverter of channels, lions' dens
مِنْfrom دَاثِرٍold دَفْرٍfoul-smelling وَمِنْand from داوٍscum-covered طامْbrimming
مِنْ دَاثِرٍ دَفْرٍ وَمِنْ داوٍ طامْ
يَصْدُرْنَthey leave the water فِيthrough عَارِيbare المَعَارِيexposed tracts نَهَّامْloudly calling
يَصْدُرْنَ فِي عَارِي المَعَارِي نَهَّامْ
some old and foul, some scum-covered and brimming.
From people in the bare hills roaming angrily
They leave the water through bare, exposed tracts loud with cries.
With short spears they stab among the dunes
بِقُلُصٍon young she-camels يَصْدُعْنَthey cleave through بَيْنbetween الأَوْجَامْstone markers
بِقُلُصٍ يَصْدُعْنَ بَيْن الأَوْجَامْ
ضَرْحَthe flinging of المَعَالِيsoaring arrows عَنْfrom قِيَاسbows of الأَنْشامْnasham wood
ضَرْحَ المَعَالِي عَنْ قِيَاس الأَنْشامْ
I rode young she-camels cleaving between stone markers,
Wounding the heights beyond the measure of glances
like arrows flung aloft from bows of nasham wood.
You see the gleam of their weapons in the thickets
تَرَىyou see ذُرَىthe summits of أَصْوَائِهَاits stone markers فِيamong الآكامْthe hills
تَرَى ذُرَى أَصْوَائِهَا فِي الآكامْ
يَقْمِصْنَthey leap فِيin الآلِthe mirage اهْتِزازَthe trembling of الدُوَّامْspinning tops
يَقْمِصْنَ فِي الآلِ اهْتِزازَ الدُوَّامْ
You see the tops of its stone markers among the hills;
They diminish in bands the shaking of lances
they leap in the mirage, trembling like spinning tops.
And I said the words of an all-encompassing protector
وَقُلْتand I said أَقْوَالَthe words of مُحِيطٍan all-comprehending man عَمَّامٍْall-embracing
وَقُلْت أَقْوَالَ مُحِيطٍ عَمَّامٍْ
لَاnot يَنْبَغِيis fitting الذِكْرُrenown بِضِبْسٍfor an ill-natured fool شَتّامْabusive
لَا يَنْبَغِي الذِكْرُ بِضِبْسٍ شَتّامْ
And I spoke as one all-comprehending and all-embracing:
It is not proper to mention with abusive and insulting language
Renown does not befit an ill-natured, abusive man.
And my praise of my people by denying raiders
وَمِدْحَتِيand my praise of قَوْمِيmy people بِمَنْعِيthrough my protection of الأَحْشامْthe dependents
وَمِدْحَتِي قَوْمِي بِمَنْعِي الأَحْشامْ
إِنَّindeed تَمِيماًTamim بِمُنىًwith wishes بِالإِتْمَامْwith fulfillment
إِنَّ تَمِيماً بِمُنىً بِالإِتْمَامْ
I praise my people through my protection of their dependents.
Indeed Tamim fulfills with perfection
Indeed Tamim has its wishes fulfilled completely,
And every stead galloped strongly joined together
وَنَجَلَتْand she bore كُلُّevery حَصانٍchaste woman مِتْآمْbearing twins
وَنَجَلَتْ كُلُّ حَصانٍ مِتْآمْ
لَهُfor him عَلَىin the face of رَغْمِthe spite of الحَسُودِthe envier الرَغَّامْintent on humiliation
لَهُ عَلَى رَغْمِ الحَسُودِ الرَغَّامْ
and every chaste mother of twins has borne
For it despite the envious talebearers
for him, despite the envier intent on humiliation,
With every praised noble club
بِكُلِّwith every مَحْمُودِpraised الدَسِيعِbounty هِلْقامُlarge-built man
بِكُلِّ مَحْمُودِ الدَسِيعِ هِلْقامُ
إِنَّindeed تَمِيماًTamim تُبْتَلَىis tested بِأَقْوامْby peoples
إِنَّ تَمِيماً تُبْتَلَى بِأَقْوامْ
every large-built man praised for his bounty.
Indeed Tamim is tested by nations
Indeed Tamim is tried by peoples
Who are neither uncles nor paternal uncles
لَيْسُواthey are not بِأَخْوَالٍmaternal uncles وَلَاand not بِأَعْمَامْpaternal uncles
لَيْسُوا بِأَخْوَالٍ وَلَا بِأَعْمَامْ
لَنَاto us إِذَاwhen اهْتَزَّquivers الشَبَاthe spearpoints فِيin الأَشْطامْthe shafts
لَنَا إِذَا اهْتَزَّ الشَبَا فِي الأَشْطامْ
who are neither maternal nor paternal uncles
When the youth shook their spears in the thickets
to us, when spearpoints quiver in their shafts.
They do not overstep the limits of Islam
لَاnot يَتَوَقُّونَthey heed حُدُودَthe limits of الإِسْلَامْIslam
لَا يَتَوَقُّونَ حُدُودَ الإِسْلَامْ
مِنْfrom رِقَّةِthe weakness of الدِينِfaith وَبُعْدand the remoteness of الأَرْحامْkinship
مِنْ رِقَّةِ الدِينِ وَبُعْد الأَرْحامْ
They do not observe the limits of Islam,
Out of the weakness of the faith and the cutting off of wombs
through weakness of faith and remoteness of kinship:
The most wicked of parties and evil of groups
أَخْبَثُthe foulest أَحْزابٍfactions وَشَرُّand the worst أَحْزامْbands
أَخْبَثُ أَحْزابٍ وَشَرُّ أَحْزامْ
ناصِرُهُمْtheir supporter مِنْfrom فَاسِقٍa sinner وَخَدَّامْand a servile attendant
ناصِرُهُمْ مِنْ فَاسِقٍ وَخَدَّامْ
the foulest factions and the worst bands,
Their supporters are corrupt and servants
whose support comes from sinners and servile attendants.
Among them Lukayz and it is the evilest of reptiles
مِنْهُمْamong them لُكَيْزٌLukayz وَهْيَand it is شَنُّa worn waterskin of الأَصْرَامْthe clans
مِنْهُمْ لُكَيْزٌ وَهْيَ شَنُّ الأَصْرَامْ
وَنُكْرُهَاand its Nukr العَادُّونَthose who overstep طُورthe limit of الأَقْسامْthe allotted shares
وَنُكْرُهَا العَادُّونَ طُور الأَقْسامْ
Among them is Lukayz, a worn waterskin among the clans,
And we detest those who barter the shares
and its Nukr, who overstep the bounds of allotted shares.
While the lion, the lion, are the young of dreams
وَالأَسْدُand al-Asd وَالأَسْدُand al-Asd صِغَارsmall in الأَحْلامْunderstanding
وَالأَسْدُ وَالأَسْدُ صِغَار الأَحْلامْ
رُدُّواbe sent back إِلَىto قَمَاءَةٍlittleness وَأَلآمْand baseborn men
رُدُّوا إِلَى قَمَاءَةٍ وَأَلآمْ
And al-Asd, and al-Asd, small of understanding:
Take them back to humiliation and pain
Be sent back to littleness and baseborn company!
Close your mouths with gags
سُدُّواstop up عَلَىover أَفْوَاهِكُمْyour mouths بِالْفَدَّامْwith a gag
سُدُّوا عَلَى أَفْوَاهِكُمْ بِالْفَدَّامْ
عُبَّادُworshippers of نَصْرَانِيَّةٍChristianity وَأَصْنامْand idols
عُبَّادُ نَصْرَانِيَّةٍ وَأَصْنامْ
Stop up your mouths with a gag,
Servants of Christianity and idols
you worshippers of Christianity and idols.
Barriers from the crowding of a crammed corner
مَحَاجِزٌholding back عَنْfrom زَحْمِthe press of رُكْنٍa pillar زَحَّامْhard-pressing
مَحَاجِزٌ عَنْ زَحْمِ رُكْنٍ زَحَّامْ
مِنَّاfrom us لأَرْكانِagainst the pillars of الأَعادِيthe enemies رَتّامْa crusher
مِنَّا لأَرْكانِ الأَعادِي رَتّامْ
You recoil from the press of a hard-pressing pillar,
We are for the pillars of enemies pelters
one of ours, a crusher of the enemies' pillars.
Far from it! They do not approach except to disappear
أَيْهَاتَfar from it لَاnot يَدْنُونَthey approach إِلَّاexcept لِلرَّامْto the archer
أَيْهَاتَ لَا يَدْنُونَ إِلَّا لِلرَّامْ
وَلَوْand if دَنَوْاthey approached قِضْنَاwe would split يَأَافِيخَthe crowns of الْهَامْthe heads
وَلَوْ دَنَوْا قِضْنَا يَأَافِيخَ الْهَامْ
Far off! They come no nearer than the archer's range.
And if they approached, we would finish off the swooping eagles
Were they to approach, we would split the crowns of their heads
With every strong, firm, powerful
بِكُلِّwith every غَرْبَيْtwo edges of قَلَعِيٍّa Qal'i blade صَمْصَامْunbending
بِكُلِّ غَرْبَيْ قَلَعِيٍّ صَمْصَامْ
وَأَذْرُعَand the arms of القَوْمِthe men بِخَفْقِwith a stroke جَذَّامْsevering
وَأَذْرُعَ القَوْمِ بِخَفْقِ جَذَّامْ
with every twin-edged, unbending Qal'i sword,
And the torn limbs with the slapping of slaughter
and the men's arms with a severing stroke,
When we pelt their group with catapults
إِذَاwhen رَجَمْنَاwe pelted جَمْعَهُمْtheir host بِمِرْجامْwith a stone-hurler
إِذَا رَجَمْنَا جَمْعَهُمْ بِمِرْجامْ
مِرْدىًa smashing club لِعَيْزارِfor the hard rock of الجِبالِthe mountains هَدَّامْdemolishing
مِرْدىً لِعَيْزارِ الجِبالِ هَدَّامْ
when we pelt their host with a stone-hurler,
Fodder for the destroying mountain goats
a smashing club that shatters the mountains' hard rock.
And they have already seen at the beginning of time
وَقَدْand indeed رَأَوْاthey saw فِيin مُسْتَهِلٍّa loud onrush زَمْزَامْrumbling
وَقَدْ رَأَوْا فِي مُسْتَهِلٍّ زَمْزَامْ
ذيpossessing لَجَبِclamor مَجْرٍa host كَأَرْكَانِlike the pillars of الدَامْthe sea
ذي لَجَبِ مَجْرٍ كَأَرْكَانِ الدَامْ
And they saw, amid a loud, rumbling onrush,
One with the courage of an flooding, overflowing sea
a clamorous host like the pillars of the sea,
A battalion for the brave translator
كَتِيبَةًa battalion لِلتَرْجُمَانِof al-Tarjuman المِقْدامْintrepid
كَتِيبَةً لِلتَرْجُمَانِ المِقْدامْ
خَاضَplunged بِهَاwith it أَشْجَعُa very brave man غَيْرُnot خَيّامْa coward
خَاضَ بِهَا أَشْجَعُ غَيْرُ خَيّامْ
a battalion of the intrepid al-Tarjuman.
He penetrated with it without being a secluded tent-dweller
A brave man plunged in with it, no shrinking coward,
Abodes away from the sanctuaries of pilgrims
مُنازِلٌa fighter عَنْin defense of حَرُماتthe sanctities of الأَحْرَامْthe inviolable
مُنازِلٌ عَنْ حَرُمات الأَحْرَامْ
لَيْسَhe is not بِوَقَّافٍhesitant وَلَاand not بِوَجَّامْstruck dumb
لَيْسَ بِوَقَّافٍ وَلَا بِوَجَّامْ
fighting to defend inviolable sanctities,
Neither a servant nor a buffoon
neither hesitant nor struck dumb,
When the veiled women held onto modesty
إِذَاwhen الكُمَاةُthe armored warriors اسْتَمْسَكُواclung بِالأَعْصامْto the straps
إِذَا الكُمَاةُ اسْتَمْسَكُوا بِالأَعْصامْ
وَكَعْكَعand drove back الهَيْبَةُterror أَهْلَthe people of الإِحْجامْhesitation
وَكَعْكَع الهَيْبَةُ أَهْلَ الإِحْجامْ
when armored warriors clutched their straps
And the awe marched the people of composure
and terror drove the hesitant back.
Through it Allah protected the honor of sheltered women
بِهِthrough him حَمَىprevented اللَّهُGod اجْتِلاءthe unveiling of الأَرْآمْthe gazelles
بِهِ حَمَى اللَّهُ اجْتِلاء الأَرْآمْ
مِنَamong النِسَاءِthe women المُشْفِقاتِfearful الحُوَّامْhovering
مِنَ النِسَاءِ المُشْفِقاتِ الحُوَّامْ
Through him God prevented the unveiling of the gazelles—
From the compassionate, tent-dwelling women
those anxious, hovering women—
And the twisting days turned away from us
وَزَلَّand slipped away عَنَّاfrom us مُعْضِلاتthe crushing troubles of الأَيَّامْthe days
وَزَلَّ عَنَّا مُعْضِلات الأَيَّامْ
وَشُبَهُand suspicions of العَارِdishonor وَسَوْآتُand the disgraces of العَامْthe year
وَشُبَهُ العَارِ وَسَوْآتُ العَامْ
and the days' crushing troubles slipped away from us,
And the shame of dishonor and scandal of the year
along with suspicions of dishonor and the year's disgraces.
So the fang of every biter turned away from us
فَارْتَدَّso turned back عَنَّاfrom us نابُthe fang of كُلِّevery كَدَّامْfierce biter
فَارْتَدَّ عَنَّا نابُ كُلِّ كَدَّامْ
وَقَدْand indeed رَأَوْاthey saw أُسْداًlions كَأُسْدِlike the lions of الآجامْthe thickets
وَقَدْ رَأَوْا أُسْداً كَأُسْدِ الآجامْ
So every fierce biter's fang was turned away from us.
And they have already seen a lion like the lions of thickets
They had seen lions like the lions of the thickets,
And the lion feared the lion of composure
وَهَابَتِand feared الآسُدَthe lions أُسْدُthe lions of الإِحْجامْtimidity
وَهَابَتِ الآسُدَ أُسْدُ الإِحْجامْ
وَنَكَلُواand they recoiled بَعْدَafter اللِفافِthe melee الضَمَّامْtightly joined
وَنَكَلُوا بَعْدَ اللِفافِ الضَمَّامْ
and the lions of timidity feared those lions.
And they slipped away after the deceitful curling up
They recoiled after the tightly joined melee,
Fleeing salvation and fearing with dwarfs
نَجَوْاthey escaped فِراراًin flight وَاتَّقُواand shielded themselves بِالأَقْزامْwith dwarfs
نَجَوْا فِراراً وَاتَّقُوا بِالأَقْزامْ
وَالحَكَمُand al-Hakam العَمْرِيُّal-'Amri خَيْرthe best of الأَحْطامْthe crushers
وَالحَكَمُ العَمْرِيُّ خَيْر الأَحْطامْ
escaping in flight and shielding themselves with dwarfs.
And the Hakam, the commander, is the best of those who perished
Al-Hakam al-'Amri is the best of the crushers,
He walks when the faces of fools frown
يَمْضِيhe advances إِذَاwhen كَلَّتْgrow weary وَجُوهthe faces of الأَكْهامْthe faint-hearted
يَمْضِي إِذَا كَلَّتْ وَجُوه الأَكْهامْ
أَزْهَرُbright-faced ذُوpossessing حَمِيَّةٍzeal وَإِعْلامْand distinction
أَزْهَرُ ذُو حَمِيَّةٍ وَإِعْلامْ
advancing when the faces of the faint-hearted grow weary:
The brightest, most prestigious and glorified
bright-faced, possessed of zeal and distinction,
Shelter of those who seek and shelter of orphans
كَهْفُa refuge for المُرَادِينَthe hunted وَكَهْفand a refuge for الأَيْتامْthe orphans
كَهْفُ المُرَادِينَ وَكَهْف الأَيْتامْ
يَصْدُقُhe proves true فِيin البَأْسِbattle وَعِنْدَand at الإِطْعامْfeeding
يَصْدُقُ فِي البَأْسِ وَعِنْدَ الإِطْعامْ
a refuge for the hunted and a refuge for orphans.
Truthful in war and when feeding
He proves true in battle and in feeding others.
The early evening came quickly before it got dark
تَعَجَّلَhe hastened المَعْبُوطُthe freshly slaughtered beast قَبْلَbefore الإِعْتامْnightfall
تَعَجَّلَ المَعْبُوطُ قَبْلَ الإِعْتامْ
لِلضَّيْفِfor the guest وَالجَارِand the neighbor وَمَلْقَىand the reception of جَثّامْa lingering visitor
لِلضَّيْفِ وَالجَارِ وَمَلْقَى جَثّامْ
He hastens the slaughter of a sound beast before nightfall,
For the guest, neighbor and receiving newcomers
for guest and neighbor, and the reception of a lingering visitor.
The high-born women knew that
قَدْindeed عَلِمَتْknew ذَاكَthat نِساءthe women of الأَبْرامْthe misers
قَدْ عَلِمَتْ ذَاكَ نِساء الأَبْرامْ
وَسَارَand marched جبْهَانُJabhan بِرَأْسٍwith a head صَدّامْhard-butting
وَسَارَ جبْهَانُ بِرَأْسٍ صَدّامْ
The misers' women know this well.
And Jabhan walked with a charging head
And Jabhan marched with a hard-butting head,
From a band who refuse the injustice of oppressors
مِنْfrom نَفَرٍa band يَأْبُونَthey refuse ظُلْمَthe injustice of الظَلَّامْthe oppressor
مِنْ نَفَرٍ يَأْبُونَ ظُلْمَ الظَلَّامْ
يَمْضِيhe advances بِهِمْwith them فِيin عارِضٍa host ذِيpossessing قُدَّامْdaring
يَمْضِي بِهِمْ فِي عارِضٍ ذِي قُدَّامْ
from a band that refuses the oppressor's injustice.
He walks with them openly with readiness
He advances with them in a host endowed with daring,
And the horses from their neighing and holding back
وَالخَيْلُand the horses مِنْfrom نَقْرَتِهاtheir pounding وَإِجْذَامْand swift strides
وَالخَيْلُ مِنْ نَقْرَتِها وَإِجْذَامْ
يُدْمِيbloodies الشَكِيمُthe bit أُدْمَهَاtheir hides بِالإِئزَامْwith clamping pressure
يُدْمِي الشَكِيمُ أُدْمَهَا بِالإِئزَامْ
while the horses, from their pounding and swift strides,
Their galloping feet make blood gush with coercion
have their hides bloodied by the bit's clamping pressure,
From pulling them and their trampling in the raids
مِنْfrom جَذْبِهِمْtheir tugging وَدَعْسِهاand their thrusting فِيin الإِلْجَامْbridling
مِنْ جَذْبِهِمْ وَدَعْسِها فِي الإِلْجَامْ
مِنْfrom نَصْرِهِمْtheir aid وَثَبْتِنَاand our steadfastness بِالإِقْدامْin advancing
مِنْ نَصْرِهِمْ وَثَبْتِنَا بِالإِقْدامْ
from the men's tugging and the horses' thrusting as they are bridled,
From their help, and our steadfastness with boldness
through their aid and our steadfast advance.
And the clamor of the army, firmly determined
وَلَغَطُand the clamor of الجَيْشِthe army مُصِمُّdeafening الإِصْمَامْutter deafness
وَلَغَطُ الجَيْشِ مُصِمُّ الإِصْمَامْ
كَأَنas though أَصْوَاتَهُمُtheir voices فِيin حَمَّامْa bathhouse
كَأَن أَصْوَاتَهُمُ فِي حَمَّامْ
The army's clamor deafens utterly,
As if their voices were in a bathroom
as though their voices were in a bathhouse,
When they meet in deep darkness and dimness
إِذَاwhen الْتَقَوْاthey meet فِيin لَجَّةٍa tumult وَغَمْغَامْand muffled roaring
إِذَا الْتَقَوْا فِي لَجَّةٍ وَغَمْغَامْ
وَالمِشْوَذand the turban السَامِيlofty بِرَدِّby dispelling أَوْهَامْdelusions
وَالمِشْوَذ السَامِي بِرَدِّ أَوْهَامْ
when they meet in tumult and muffled roaring.
And the eminent minister with the rebuttal of delusions
And the lofty turban, dispelling delusions,
Blessed, fills the eye of the blind
مُبَارَكٌblessed يَمْلأُfills عَيْنَthe eye of المُعْتَامْthe discerning chooser
مُبَارَكٌ يَمْلأُ عَيْنَ المُعْتَامْ
مُطَوَّقٌladen with أَوْقَthe burden of الأُمُورِaffairs الأَعْظامْthe greatest
مُطَوَّقٌ أَوْقَ الأُمُورِ الأَعْظامْ
is blessed, filling the eye of the discerning chooser.
Collared with the greatest and most serious matters
He bears the burden of the greatest affairs around his neck,
With every reviver in which women persist
بِكُلِّwith every نَهَّاضٍready riser بِهِنَّto them قَوَّامْsteadfast upholder
بِكُلِّ نَهَّاضٍ بِهِنَّ قَوَّامْ
لَيْسَhe is not عَلَىover شَيْءٍanything مَضَىthat has passed بِلَوَّامْone who blames
لَيْسَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مَضَى بِلَوَّامْ
with all who rise to them and steadfastly uphold them.
Not blaming anything that has passed
He lays no blame for anything that has passed.
Relieving the worry of grueling matters
مُفَرِّجٌdispelling غَمَّthe grief of الأُمُورaffairs الأَعْقامْintractable
مُفَرِّجٌ غَمَّ الأُمُور الأَعْقامْ
بِاللَّهِwith God's help مِنْfrom جَهْدِthe strain of البَلَاءِaffliction العَمّامْall-encompassing
بِاللَّهِ مِنْ جَهْدِ البَلَاءِ العَمّامْ
He dispels the grief of intractable affairs,
By God, from the hardship of enveloping affliction
with God's help, from the strain of all-embracing affliction.
Like a lion whose resting place is guarded
كَاللَيْثِlike the lion يَحْمِيهِhe guards it افْتِراشlaying out الأَوْضامْthe meat-blocks
كَاللَيْثِ يَحْمِيهِ افْتِراش الأَوْضامْ
إِذَاwhen شَحَاhe gapes عَضَّhe bites بِنابَيْwith the two fangs of ضَغّامْa fierce biter
إِذَا شَحَا عَضَّ بِنابَيْ ضَغّامْ
Like a lion, he guards the meat laid out on blocks;
When food is scarce he bites with two tearing incisors
when he gapes, he bites with a fierce biter's two fangs,
Biting and swooping with a growling throat
مَضْغاًchewing وَيهْوِيand he plunges فِيinto لُهَامٍa vast host ضَمْضَامْdensely massed
مَضْغاً وَيهْوِي فِي لُهَامٍ ضَمْضَامْ
يَرُدُّhe wards off عَنْهُfrom it بِالزَئِيرِwith roaring الهَمْهَامْthe mighty lion
يَرُدُّ عَنْهُ بِالزَئِيرِ الهَمْهَامْ
chewing, then plunging into a vast, densely massed host.
He drives away from him with a roaring howl
The mighty lion wards them off from it with his roar,
And he throws every little lizard with his claws
وَيَخْتَلِيand he mows down بِالقَصْلِwith severing كُلَّevery ضِرْغامْlion
وَيَخْتَلِي بِالقَصْلِ كُلَّ ضِرْغامْ
وَالصِيدُand the proud-necked ones يَخْفِضْنَthey bow لَهُto him بِاسْتِسلامْin surrender
وَالصِيدُ يَخْفِضْنَ لَهُ بِاسْتِسلامْ
and mows down every lion with a severing stroke.
And the prey bows down to him in surrender
The proud-necked ones bow before him in surrender.
And there came the beating of the orphans' tambourines
وَجَاءَand came دُفَّاعُthe defenders of الرِبابal-Ribab الأَيْتامْthe orphaned
وَجَاءَ دُفَّاعُ الرِباب الأَيْتامْ
وَزَخَرَتْand surged سَعْدٌSa'd بِعِزٍّwith might قَمْقامْoceanic
وَزَخَرَتْ سَعْدٌ بِعِزٍّ قَمْقامْ
The defenders of orphaned al-Ribab came,
And Saad flourished with enduring honor
and Sa'd surged with oceanic might.
Like the night satisfying you from the blackened dunes
كَاللَيْلِlike the night يَكْفِيكَit protects you against قُرُومthe lords of الأَهْضامْthe valleys
كَاللَيْلِ يَكْفِيكَ قُرُوم الأَهْضامْ
يَهْدِيhe guides هَوَادِيهمْtheir vanguard بِتِمِّهَاby its full moon التَامfully complete
يَهْدِي هَوَادِيهمْ بِتِمِّهَا التَام
Like the night, it protects you against the lords of the valleys;
Guiding their valleys with its perfect completion
he guides their vanguard by its moon in full perfection.
They built stars illuminated and banners
بَنُواsons of نُجُومٍstars نُوِّرَتْmade radiant وَأَعْلامْand landmarks
بَنُوا نُجُومٍ نُوِّرَتْ وَأَعْلامْ
مَعَاقِلٌrefuges لِلنَاسِfor people عِنْدَat الإِعْدامْdestitution
مَعَاقِلٌ لِلنَاسِ عِنْدَ الإِعْدامْ
Sons of stars made radiant, and of landmarks,
Refuges for people at destruction
refuges for people in times of destitution,
A people who have the proud courage of clubs
قَوْمٌa people لَهُمْthey have هَامَةُa head of عِزٍّmight صِلْدَامْunyielding
قَوْمٌ لَهُمْ هَامَةُ عِزٍّ صِلْدَامْ
وَنَادِخٌand a towering mass جَاشَsurged بِطِمٍّwith a sea طَمَّامْoverflowing
وَنَادِخٌ جَاشَ بِطِمٍّ طَمَّامْ
a people with an unyielding head of might,
And Nadikh overflowing with a unifying seal
and a towering mass, surging with an overflowing sea.
With them we broke the nose of every fumbler
بِهِمْthrough them خَزَمْنَاwe pierced أَنْفَthe nose of كُلِّevery قَمْقامْmighty chief
بِهِمْ خَزَمْنَا أَنْفَ كُلِّ قَمْقامْ
Through them we put a nose-ring on every mighty chief.
Partial English translation: 102 of 103 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1