قَبيحٌshameful بِمَنfor one who ضاقَتbecame cramped عَنِcompared with الأَرضِthe earth أَرضُهُhis land
قَبيحٌ بِمَن ضاقَت عَنِ الأَرضِ أَرضُهُ
وَطولُand the length of الفَلاthe wilderness رَحبٌspacious لَدَيهِbefore him وَعَرضُهُand its breadth
وَطولُ الفَلا رَحبٌ لَدَيهِ وَعَرضُهُ
Shame on one whose land is cramped beside the earth,
while the wilderness lies spacious before him in length and breadth,
وَلَمand did not يُبلِwear out سِربالَthe garment of الدُجىdarkness فيهِwithin it رَكضُهُhis galloping
وَلَم يُبلِ سِربالَ الدُجى فيهِ رَكضُهُ
إِذاif المَرءُa man لَمnot يَدنَسbecome sullied مِنَby اللُؤمِbaseness عِرضُهُhis honor
إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَدنَس مِنَ اللُؤمِ عِرضُهُ
yet his galloping has not worn out the garment of darkness within it.
If a man's honor is not sullied by baseness,
فَكُلُّthen every رِداءٍcloak يَرتَديهِhe wears جَميلُbeautiful
فَكُلُّ رِداءٍ يَرتَديهِ جَميلُ
إِذاif المَرءُa man لَمnot يَحجُبwithhold عَنِfrom العَينِthe eye نَومَهاits sleep
إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَحجُب عَنِ العَينِ نَومَها
then every cloak he wears is beautiful.
If a man does not deny his eye its sleep
وَيُغليand raise مِنَof النَفسِthe soul النَفيسَةِprecious سَومَهاits price
وَيُغلي مِنَ النَفسِ النَفيسَةِ سَومَها
أُضيعَhe is squandered وَلَمand not تَأمَنbe safe from مَعاليهِhis lofty aims لَومَهاits reproach
أُضيعَ وَلَم تَأمَن مَعاليهِ لَومَها
and raise the price of his precious soul,
he is squandered, and his lofty aims are not safe from its reproach.
وَإِنand if هُوَhe لَمnot يَحمِلmake bear عَلىupon النَفسِthe soul ضَيمَهاits hardship
وَإِن هُوَ لَم يَحمِل عَلى النَفسِ ضَيمَها
فَلَيسَthen there is no إِلىto حُسنِfine الثَناءِpraise سَبيلُway
فَلَيسَ إِلى حُسنِ الثَناءِ سَبيلُ
And if he does not make his soul bear its hardship,
there is no path to fine praise.
وَعُصبَةِand a band of غَدرٍtreachery أَرغَمَتهاhumbled it جَدودُناour fortunes
وَعُصبَةِ غَدرٍ أَرغَمَتها جَدودُنا
فَباتَتso it became وَمِنهاand among it ضِدُّناour foe وَحَسودُناand our envier
فَباتَت وَمِنها ضِدُّنا وَحَسودُنا
And many a treacherous band our fortunes have humbled:
it came to include our foe and our envier;
إِذاwhen عَجِزَتit is unable عَنto فِعلِcarry out كَيدٍa plot يَكيدُناthat harms us
إِذا عَجِزَت عَن فِعلِ كَيدٍ يَكيدُنا
تُعَيِّرُناit taunts us أَنّاthat we قَليلٌare few عَديدُناour number
تُعَيِّرُنا أَنّا قَليلٌ عَديدُنا
when it cannot devise a plot that harms us,
it taunts us that our numbers are few.
فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto it إِنَّindeed الكِرامَthe noble قَليلُare few
فَقُلتُ لَها إِنَّ الكِرامَ قَليلُ
رَفَعناwe raised عَلىabove هامِthe crown of السَماكِal-Simak مَحَلَّناour station
رَفَعنا عَلى هامِ السَماكِ مَحَلَّنا
So I told it: the noble are indeed few.
We raised our station above the crown of al-Simak;
فَلاso no مَلِكٌking إِلّاexcept تَفَيّأَsought shade in ظِلَّناour shadow
فَلا مَلِكٌ إِلّا تَفَيّأَ ظِلَّنا
فَقَدfor indeed خافَfeared جَيشُthe army of الأَكثَرينَthe more numerous أَقَلَّناour few
فَقَد خافَ جَيشُ الأَكثَرينَ أَقَلَّنا
no king but has sought shelter in our shade.
Indeed, the army of the many has feared our few.
وَماand not قَلَّfew مَنone whose كانَتwere بَقاياهُits survivors مِثلَناlike us
وَما قَلَّ مَن كانَت بَقاياهُ مِثلَنا
شَبابٌyoung men تَسامىaspiring لِلعُلىto the heights وَكُهولُand mature men
شَبابٌ تَسامى لِلعُلى وَكُهولُ
No people are few whose survivors are like us:
young men and mature men aspiring to the heights.
يُوازيmatches الجِبالَthe mountains الراسِياتِfirmly rooted وَقارُناour dignity
يُوازي الجِبالَ الراسِياتِ وَقارُنا
وَتُبنىand is built عَلىupon هامِthe crown of المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way دارُناour home
وَتُبنى عَلى هامِ المَجَرَّةِ دارُنا
Our dignity matches the firmly rooted mountains;
our home is built upon the crown of the Milky Way.
وَيَأمَنُand is safe مِنfrom صَرفِthe reversals of الزَمانِtime جِوارُناour protection
وَيَأمَنُ مِن صَرفِ الزَمانِ جِوارُنا
وَماand not ضَرَّناharmed us أَنّاthat we قَليلٌare few وَجارُناand our neighbor
وَما ضَرَّنا أَنّا قَليلٌ وَجارُنا
Those we protect are safe from the reversals of time.
It harms us not that we are few, while our neighbor
عَزيزٌmighty وَجارُand the neighbor of الأَكثَرينَthe more numerous ذَليلُabased
عَزيزٌ وَجارُ الأَكثَرينَ ذَليلُ
وَلَمّاand when حَلَلناwe settled in الشامَal-Sham تَمَّتwere perfected أُمورُهُits affairs
وَلَمّا حَلَلنا الشامَ تَمَّت أُمورُهُ
stands mighty, and the neighbor of the many is abased.
When we settled in al-Sham, its affairs were perfected
لَناfor us وَحَباناand favored us مَلكُهُits king وَأَميرُهُand its prince
لَنا وَحَبانا مَلكُهُ وَأَميرُهُ
وَبِالنَيرَبِand in al-Nayrab الأَعلىUpper الَّذيwhich عَزَّwas impregnable طورُهُits mountain
وَبِالنَيرَبِ الأَعلى الَّذي عَزَّ طورُهُ
for us, and its king and prince favored us.
And in Upper al-Nayrab, whose mountain is unassailable,
لَناwe have جَبَلٌa mountain يَحتَلُّهُdwells on it مَنwhoever نِجيرُهُwe shelter him
لَنا جَبَلٌ يَحتَلُّهُ مَن نِجيرُهُ
مَنيعٌimpregnable يَرُدُّturns back الطَرفَthe gaze وَهوَwhile it كَليلُis weary
مَنيعٌ يَرُدُّ الطَرفَ وَهوَ كَليلُ
we have a mountain inhabited by those we shelter:
impregnable, it turns the gaze back weary.
يُريكَshows you الثَرَيّاthe Pleiades مِنthrough خِلالِthe gaps in شِعابِهِits ravines
يُريكَ الثَرَيّا مِن خِلالِ شِعابِهِ
وَتُحدِقُand encircle شُهبُthe bright stars of الأُفقِthe horizon حَولَaround هِضابِهِits plateaus
وَتُحدِقُ شُهبُ الأُفقِ حَولَ هِضابِهِ
It shows you the Pleiades through its ravines;
the horizon's bright stars encircle its plateaus.
وَيَعثُرُand falters خَطوُthe step of السُحبِthe clouds دونَbefore اِرتِكابِهِclimbing it
وَيَعثُرُ خَطوُ السُحبِ دونَ اِرتِكابِهِ
رَساstands firm أَصلُهُits root تَحتَbeneath الثَرىthe soil وَسَماand rises بِهِwith it
رَسا أَصلُهُ تَحتَ الثَرى وَسَما بِهِ
The clouds' steps stumble before they can climb it.
Its root stands firm beneath the soil, and with it soars
إِلىtoward النَجمِthe star فَرعٌa branch لاnot يُنالُis reached طَويلُtall
إِلى النَجمِ فَرعٌ لا يُنالُ طَويلُ
وَقَصرٍand a palace عَلىupon الشَقراءِal-Shaqra قَدindeed فاضَoverflowed نَهرُهُits river
وَقَصرٍ عَلى الشَقراءِ قَد فاضَ نَهرُهُ
a tall, unreachable branch toward the stars.
And a palace upon al-Shaqra: its river has overflowed,
وَفاقَand surpassed عَلىbeyond فَخرِthe pride of الكَواكِبِthe stars فَخرُهُits pride
وَفاقَ عَلى فَخرِ الكَواكِبِ فَخرُهُ
وَقَدand indeed شاعَspread ماemphatic particle بَينَamong البَرِيَّةِmankind شُكرُهُits praise
وَقَد شاعَ ما بَينَ البَرِيَّةِ شُكرُهُ
and its pride surpasses the pride of the stars.
Its praise has spread throughout mankind.
هُوَit الأَبلَقُal-Ablaq الفَردُthe Peerless الَّذيwhich شاعَspread ذِكرُهُits renown
هُوَ الأَبلَقُ الفَردُ الَّذي شاعَ ذِكرُهُ
يَعُزُّis inaccessible عَلىto مَنwhoever رامَهُseeks it وَيَطولُand towers high
يَعُزُّ عَلى مَن رامَهُ وَيَطولُ
It is al-Ablaq, the Peerless, whose fame has spread;
it defies whoever seeks it and towers high.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle غَضِبناwe grew angry فيfor رِضىthe pleasure of المَجدِglory غَضبَةًan outburst of anger
إِذا ما غَضِبنا في رِضى المَجدِ غَضبَةً
لِنُدرِكَso we may exact ثَأراًvengeance أَوor لِنَبلُغَso we may attain رُتبَةًa rank
لِنُدرِكَ ثَأراً أَو لِنَبلُغَ رُتبَةً
When we rage with an anger that pleases glory,
to exact vengeance or attain a rank,
نَزيدُwe increase غَداةَon the morning of الكَرِّthe charge فيin المَوتِdeath رَغبَةًdesire
نَزيدُ غَداةَ الكَرِّ في المَوتِ رَغبَةً
وَإِنّاand indeed we لَقَومٌare surely a people لاnot نَرىregard القَتلَbeing slain سُبَّةًa disgrace
وَإِنّا لَقَومٌ لا نَرى القَتلَ سُبَّةً
we grow more eager for death on the morning of the charge.
We are indeed a people who see no shame in being slain,
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle رَأَتهُdeemed it عامِرٌAmir وَسَلولُand Salul
إِذا ما رَأَتهُ عامِرٌ وَسَلولُ
أَبادَتdestroyed مُلاقاةُencounters with الحُروبِwars رِجالَناour men
أَبادَت مُلاقاةُ الحُروبِ رِجالَنا
even when Amir and Salul deem it shameful.
Encounters with wars have destroyed our men,
وَعاشَand lived الأَعاديthe enemies حينَwhen مَلّواthey wearied of قِتالَناfighting us
وَعاشَ الأَعادي حينَ مَلّوا قِتالَنا
لَأَنّاbecause we إِذاwhen رامَsought العُداةُthe foes نِزالَناbattle with us
لَأَنّا إِذا رامَ العُداةُ نِزالَنا
while our enemies lived on when they wearied of fighting us.
For when our foes seek battle with us,
يُقَرِّبُbrings near حُبُّlove of المَوتِdeath آجالَناour appointed ends لَناto us
يُقَرِّبُ حُبُّ المَوتِ آجالَنا لَنا
وَتَكرَهُهُand loathe it آجالُهُمtheir lifespans فَتَطولُso they lengthen
وَتَكرَهُهُ آجالُهُم فَتَطولُ
love of death draws our appointed ends close to us,
while their lifespans loathe it and thus grow long.
فَمِنّاso among us مُعيدُone who brings back اللَيثِthe lion فيinto قَبضِthe grasp of كَفِّهِhis hand
فَمِنّا مُعيدُ اللَيثِ في قَبضِ كَفِّهِ
وَمورِدُهُand one who makes it drink فيin أَسرِهِits captivity كَأسَthe cup of حَتفِهِits doom
وَمورِدُهُ في أَسرِهِ كَأسَ حَتفِهِ
Among us is one who brings the lion back into his hand's grasp,
and, in its captivity, makes it drink the cup of its doom.
وَمِنّاand among us مُبيدُone who destroys الأَلفِa thousand فيon يَومِthe day of زَحفِهِhis advance
وَمِنّا مُبيدُ الأَلفِ في يَومِ زَحفِهِ
وَماand not ماتَdied مِنّاamong us سَيِّدٌa lord حَتفَthe death of أَنفِهِhis nose (idiom: naturally)
وَما ماتَ مِنّا سَيِّدٌ حَتفَ أَنفِهِ
Among us is one who destroys a thousand on the day of his advance.
No lord of ours has died a natural death,
وَلاand not ضَلَّwas lost يَوماًever حَيثُwherever كانَwas قَتيلُa slain man
وَلا ضَلَّ يَوماً حَيثُ كانَ قَتيلُ
إِذاif خافَfeared ضَيماًoppression جارُناour neighbor وَجَليسُناand our companion
إِذا خافَ ضَيماً جارُنا وَجَليسُنا
nor has a slain man ever been lost, wherever he lay.
If our neighbor and companion fear oppression,
فَمِنthen from دونِهِbefore him أَموالُناour wealth وَرُؤوسُناand our heads
فَمِن دونِهِ أَموالُنا وَرُؤوسُنا
وَإِنand if أَجَّجَتkindled نارَthe fire of الوَقائِعِbattles شوسُناour fierce warriors
وَإِن أَجَّجَت نارَ الوَقائِعِ شوسُنا
our wealth and our heads stand in their defense.
And if our fierce warriors kindle the fire of battles,
تَسيلُflow عَلىupon حَدِّthe edge of الظُباتِblades نُفوسُناour souls
تَسيلُ عَلى حَدِّ الظُباتِ نُفوسُنا
وَلَيسَتand do not عَلىupon غَيرِother than الظُباتِblades تَسيلُflow
وَلَيسَت عَلى غَيرِ الظُباتِ تَسيلُ
our souls stream upon the edge of blades,
and nowhere but upon blades do they flow.
جَنىreaped نَفعَناour benefit الأَعداءُthe enemies طَوراًat times وَضَرَّناand our harm
جَنى نَفعَنا الأَعداءُ طَوراً وَضَرَّنا
فَماso how كانَwere أَحلاناsweet we were لَهُمto them وَأَمَرَّناand bitter we were
فَما كانَ أَحلانا لَهُم وَأَمَرَّنا
Our enemies have reaped our benefit at times, and our harm:
how sweet we were to them, and how bitter!
وَمُذand since خَطَبواthey sought قِدماًlong ago صَفاناour sincerity وَبِرَّناand our kindness
وَمُذ خَطَبوا قِدماً صَفانا وَبِرَّنا
صَفَوناwe remained pure وَلَمand not نَكدُرgrew turbid وَأَخلَصَand purified سِرَّناour inner nature
صَفَونا وَلَم نَكدُر وَأَخلَصَ سِرَّنا
And since they sought our sincerity and kindness long ago,
we have stayed clear, never turbid; our inmost nature was purified by
إِناثٌwomen أَطابَتmade wholesome حَملَناthe bearing of us وَفُحولُand sires
إِناثٌ أَطابَت حَملَنا وَفُحولُ
لَقَدindeed وَفَتِfulfilled العَلياءُeminence فيin المَجدِglory قِسطَناour share
لَقَد وَفَتِ العَلياءُ في المَجدِ قِسطَنا
women who made their bearing of us pure, and by sires.
Eminence has surely paid us our share of glory,
وَماand not خالَفَتviolated فيin مَنشَأِthe source of الأَصلِthe lineage شَرطَناour condition
وَما خالَفَت في مَنشَأِ الأَصلِ شَرطَنا
فَمُذso when حاوَلَتit attempted فيin ساحَةِthe arena of العِزِّhonor هَبطَناto lower us
فَمُذ حاوَلَت في ساحَةِ العِزِّ هَبطَنا
nor violated our terms regarding our lineage's source.
So when it sought to lower us in honor's arena,
عَلَوناwe rose إِلىto خَيرِthe finest الظُهورِloins وَحَطَّناand lowered us
عَلَونا إِلى خَيرِ الظُهورِ وَحَطَّنا
لِوَقتٍfor a time إِلىinto خَيرِthe finest البُطونِwombs نُزولُa descent
لِوَقتٍ إِلى خَيرِ البُطونِ نُزولُ
we rose to the finest loins, and were brought down
for a time into the finest wombs by a descent.
تُقِرُّacknowledge لَناfor us الأَعداءُthe enemies عِندَwhen اِنتِسابِناwe state our lineage
تُقِرُّ لَنا الأَعداءُ عِندَ اِنتِسابِنا
وَتَخشىand fear خُطوبُthe calamities of الدَهرِtime فَصلَthe decisiveness of خِطابِناour speech
وَتَخشى خُطوبُ الدَهرِ فَصلَ خِطابِنا
Our enemies acknowledge us when we declare our lineage;
time's calamities fear the decisiveness of our speech.
لَقَدindeed بالَغَتwent to great lengths أَيديthe hands of العُلىthe heights فيin اِنتِخابِناchoosing us
لَقَد بالَغَت أَيدي العُلى في اِنتِخابِنا
فَنَحنُso we كَماءِlike the water of المُزنِrain clouds ماnot فيin نِصابِناour stock
فَنَحنُ كَماءِ المُزنِ ما في نِصابِنا
The hands of the heights have spared no effort in choosing us.
We are like rain-cloud water; in our stock there is no
كَهامٌa weakling وَلاand not فيناamong us يُعَدُّis counted بَخيلُa miser
كَهامٌ وَلا فينا يُعَدُّ بَخيلُ
نُغيثُwe rescue بَنيthe sons of الدُنياthe world وَنَحمِلُand we bear هَولَهُمtheir terrors
نُغيثُ بَني الدُنيا وَنَحمِلُ هَولَهُم
weakling, nor is any miser numbered among us.
We rescue the sons of this world and shoulder their terrors,
كَماjust as يَومُناour day فيin العِزِّhonor يَعدِلُequals حَولَهُمtheir year
كَما يَومُنا في العِزِّ يَعدِلُ حَولَهُم
نَطولُwe surpass in bounty أُناساًpeople تَحسُدُenvy السُحبُthe clouds طَولَهُمtheir bounty
نَطولُ أُناساً تَحسُدُ السُحبُ طَولَهُم
just as our day of honor equals their year.
We outdo in bounty people whose bounty the clouds envy.
وَنُنكِرُand we disapprove of إِنif شَيئاًanything عَلىin الناسِpeople قَولَهُمtheir speech
وَنُنكِرُ إِن شَيئاً عَلى الناسِ قَولَهُم
وَلاand not يُنكِرونَthey challenge القَولَspeech حينَwhen نَقولُwe speak
وَلا يُنكِرونَ القَولَ حينَ نَقولُ
And if we fault people for anything, it is their speech;
yet they do not fault our words when we speak.
لِأَشياخِناfor our elders سَعيٌeffort بِهِby it المُلكَthe kingdom أَيَّدواthey upheld
لِأَشياخِنا سَعيٌ بِهِ المُلكَ أَيَّدوا
وَمِنand through سَعيِناour efforts بَيتُthe house of العَلاءِeminence مُشَيَّدُis erected
وَمِن سَعيِنا بَيتُ العَلاءِ مُشَيَّدُ
Our elders labored, and thereby upheld the kingdom;
through our efforts the house of eminence stands built.
فَلاso may not زالَcease مِنّاamong us فيin الدَسوتِseats of honor مُؤَيَّدُone supported
فَلا زالَ مِنّا في الدَسوتِ مُؤَيَّدُ
إِذاwhen سَيِّدٌa lord مِنّاof us خَلاdeparted قامَarose سَيِّدُa lord
إِذا سَيِّدٌ مِنّا خَلا قامَ سَيِّدُ
May one of us always be upheld in the seats of honor.
Whenever a lord of ours departs, another lord arises:
قَؤولٌa ready speaker لِماof what قالَsaid الكِرامُthe noble فَعولُa ready doer
قَؤولٌ لِما قالَ الكِرامُ فَعولُ
سَبَقناwe outstripped إِلىtoward شَأوِthe farthest reach of العُلىglory كُلَّevery سابِقِforerunner
سَبَقنا إِلى شَأوِ العُلى كُلَّ سابِقِ
a ready speaker of noble men's words, and a ready doer.
We outstripped every forerunner toward glory's farthest reach;
وَعَمَّand encompassed عَطاناour bounty كُلَّevery راجٍhopeful person وَوامِقِand admirer
وَعَمَّ عَطانا كُلَّ راجٍ وَوامِقِ
فَكَمso how many قَدindeed خَبَتdied out فيin المَحلِdrought نارُthe fire of مُنافِقِa hypocrite
فَكَم قَد خَبَت في المَحلِ نارُ مُنافِقِ
our bounty embraced every hopeful soul and admirer.
How many a hypocrite's fire has gone out in drought!
وَماand not أُخمِدَتwas quenched نارٌa fire لَناof ours دونَto the exclusion of طارِقِa night visitor
وَما أُخمِدَت نارٌ لَنا دونَ طارِقِ
وَلاand not ذَمَّناreproached us فيamong النازِلينَthose lodging نَزيلُa guest
وَلا ذَمَّنا في النازِلينَ نَزيلُ
No fire of ours was ever quenched to shut out a night visitor,
nor has any guest among those lodging with us reproached us.
عَلَوناwe rose مَكانَthe place of النَجمِthe star دونَbeneath عُلُوِّناour height
عَلَونا مَكانَ النَجمِ دونَ عُلُوِّنا
وَسامَand imposed on العُداةَthe foes الحَسفَabasement فَرطُthe excess of سُمُوِّناour loftiness
وَسامَ العُداةَ الحَسفَ فَرطُ سُمُوِّنا
We rose; the star's station lies below our height.
Our surpassing loftiness forced abasement upon our foes.
فَماذاso what يَسُرُّpleases الضِدَّthe adversary فيon يَومِthe day of سَوَّناour misfortune (unclear spelling)
فَماذا يَسُرُّ الضِدَّ في يَومِ سَوَّنا
وَأَيّامُناand our days مَشهورَةٌare renowned فيamong عَدُوِّناour enemies
وَأَيّامُنا مَشهورَةٌ في عَدُوِّنا
What, then, can please our foe on a day of our misfortune?
Our battle-days are renowned among our enemies;
لَهاthey have غُرَرٌwhite forehead-blazes مَعلومَةٌwell-known وَحُجولُand white stockings
لَها غُرَرٌ مَعلومَةٌ وَحُجولُ
لَناwe have يَومَon the day of حَربِwar against الخارِجِيِّal-Khariji وَتَغلِبٍand Taghlib
لَنا يَومَ حَربِ الخارِجِيِّ وَتَغلِبٍ
they bear well-known white forehead-blazes and white stockings.
On the day of war against al-Khariji and Taghlib, we had
وَقائِعُbattles فَلَّتnicked لِلظُبىfor the blades كُلَّevery مَضرِبِstriking edge
وَقائِعُ فَلَّت لِلظُبى كُلَّ مَضرِبِ
فَأَحسابُناso our ancestral honors مِنfrom بَعدِafter فِهرٍFihr وَيَعرُبِand Ya'rub
فَأَحسابُنا مِن بَعدِ فِهرٍ وَيَعرُبِ
battles that nicked every striking edge of the blades.
Our ancestral honors follow those of Fihr and Ya'rub;
وَأَسيافُناand our swords فيin كُلِّevery شَرقٍeast وَمَغرِبِand west
وَأَسيافُنا في كُلِّ شَرقٍ وَمَغرِبِ
بِهاin them مِنfrom قِراعِclashing with الدارِعينَarmored warriors فُلولُnicks
بِها مِن قِراعِ الدارِعينَ فُلولُ
our swords, in every east and west,
bear nicks from clashing with armored men.
أَبَدناwe destroyed الأَعاديthe enemies حينَwhen ساءَgrew evil فِعالُهاtheir deeds
أَبَدنا الأَعادي حينَ ساءَ فِعالُها
فَعادَso recoiled عَلَيهاupon them كَيدُهاtheir plotting وَنِكالُهاand their punishment
فَعادَ عَلَيها كَيدُها وَنِكالُها
We destroyed our enemies when their deeds grew evil;
their plotting and punishment recoiled upon them.
وَبيضٌand bright swords جَلاdispelled ليلَthe night of العَجاجِbattle-dust صِقالُهاtheir polish
وَبيضٌ جَلا ليلَ العَجاجِ صِقالُها
مَعَوَّدَةٌaccustomed أَلاnot to تُسَلَّbe drawn نِصالُهاtheir blades
مَعَوَّدَةٌ أَلا تُسَلَّ نِصالُها
And bright swords, whose polish dispelled the night of battle-dust,
are accustomed never to have their blades drawn
فَتُغمَدَthen be sheathed حَتّىuntil يُستَباحَis ravaged قَبيلُa tribe
فَتُغمَدَ حَتّى يُستَباحَ قَبيلُ
هُمthey هَوَّنواbelittled فيin قَدرِthe standing of مَنthose who لَمnot يُهِنهُمُdemeaned them
هُم هَوَّنوا في قَدرِ مَن لَم يُهِنهُمُ
and then sheathed until a tribe is ravaged.
They belittled the standing of those who had not demeaned them,
وَخانواand they betrayed غَداةَon the morning of السِلمِpeace مَنthose who لَمnot يَخُنهُمُbetrayed them
وَخانوا غَداةَ السِلمِ مَن لَم يَخُنهُمُ
فَإِنso if شِئتِyou wish (feminine) خُبرَknowledge of الحالِthe situation مِنّاfrom us وَمِنهُمand from them
فَإِن شِئتِ خُبرَ الحالِ مِنّا وَمِنهُم
and in the morning of peace betrayed those who had not betrayed them.
If you wish to learn how things stand with us and them,
سَليask (feminine) إِنif جَهِلتِyou do not know (feminine) الناسَpeople عَنّاabout us وَعَنهُمُand about them
سَلي إِن جَهِلتِ الناسَ عَنّا وَعَنهُمُ
فَليسَfor not سَواءًequal عالِمٌone who knows وَجُهولُand one deeply ignorant
فَليسَ سَواءً عالِمٌ وَجُهولُ
ask people about us and them, if you do not know.
The knowledgeable and the ignorant are not alike.
لَئِنeven if ثَلَمَnicked الأَعداءُthe enemies عِرضيmy honor بِسَومِهِمwith their abuse
لَئِن ثَلَمَ الأَعداءُ عِرضي بِسَومِهِم
فَكَمthen how often حَلِمواthey dreamed بيof me فيin الكَرىslumber عِندَduring نَومِهِمtheir sleep
فَكَم حَلِموا بي في الكَرى عِندَ نَومِهِم
Even if enemies have nicked my honor with their abuse,
how often they have dreamed of me in slumber as they slept!
وَإِنand if أَصبَحواthey became قُطباًan axis لِأَبناءِfor the sons of قَومِهِمtheir people
وَإِن أَصبَحوا قُطباً لِأَبناءِ قَومِهِم
فَإِنَّthen indeed بَنيthe sons of الرَيّانِal-Rayyan قُطبٌan axis لِقَومِهِمfor their people
فَإِنَّ بَني الرَيّانِ قُطبٌ لِقَومِهِم
And if they have become an axis for the sons of their people,
then Banu al-Rayyan are the axis of their people:
تَدورُturns رَحاهَمtheir millstone حَولَهُمaround them وَتَجولُand revolves
تَدورُ رَحاهَم حَولَهُم وَتَجولُ
their millstone turns around them and revolves.
Sol 6.1