وَجَدتُ العامِرِيَّ بن الزِّبَعرى

وَجَدتُ العامِرِيَّ بن الزِّبَعرى

جُبَيراً خَيرَ مُختَبَطٍ لِساري

جُبَيراً خَيرَ مُختَبَطٍ لِساري

I found al-ʿĀmirī ibn al-Zubaʿrā—

And I found al-ʿĀmirī, son of al-Zibaʿrā—

Jubayr—the finest refuge for a traveler by night.

Jubayr—the best man for a night traveler to seek for aid.

وَجَدتُكَ إِذ بَلاكَ الأَمرُ صُلباً

وَجَدتُكَ إِذ بَلاكَ الأَمرُ صُلباً

كَريمَ العِرقِ مِن عودٍ نُضارِ

كَريمَ العِرقِ مِن عودٍ نُضارِ

And I found you steadfast when the ordeal put you to the test,

And I found you steadfast when the ordeal tested you,

noble in lineage, sprung from choice, flourishing stock.

noble of root, sprung from choice wood.

وَزِندكَ حينَ تُنسَبُ مِن نُميرٍ

وَزِندكَ حينَ تُنسَبُ مِن نُميرٍ

كَريمٌ مِن زِنادِ المَجدِ واري

كَريمٌ مِن زِنادِ المَجدِ واري

And your fire-stick, when your descent is traced to Numayr,

And your fire-stick, when your lineage is traced to Numayr,

is noble—one of glory’s fire-sticks, blazing bright.

is noble, sparking among the fire-sticks of glory.

لعَمركَ ما رماحُ بَني نُمَيرٍ

لعَمركَ ما رماحُ بَني نُمَيرٍ

بِطائِشَةِ الكعوبِ وَلا قِصارِ

بِطائِشَةِ الكعوبِ وَلا قِصارِ

By your life, the spears of Banū Numayr

By your life, the spears of the sons of Numayr

do not waver at the joints, nor are they short.

are neither unsteady at the joints nor short.