عَنّيfrom me إِلَيكِaway with you حَوادِثَvicissitudes الأَيّامِof the days
عَنّي إِلَيكِ حَوادِثَ الأَيّامِ
ماnot كُلُّevery يَومٍday يُستَطاعُis possible خِصاميcontending with me
ما كُلُّ يَومٍ يُستَطاعُ خِصامي
Away from me, vicissitudes of time!
You cannot contend with me every day.
لاdo not تَحسَبيthink الصَحبَthe companions الَّذينَwhom عَهِدتِهِمyou knew them
لا تَحسَبي الصَحبَ الَّذينَ عَهِدتِهِم
صَحبيmy companions وَلاnor تِلكَthose الخِيامَtents خِياميmy tents
صَحبي وَلا تِلكَ الخِيامَ خِيامي
Do not think the companions whom you knew
are my companions, or those tents my tents.
أَناI مَنthe one whom عَرَفتِyou knew فَأَوقِديso kindle نارَthe fire of الوَغىwar
أَنا مَن عَرَفتِ فَأَوقِدي نارَ الوَغى
ماin the space بَينَناbetween us وَتَعَرَّفيand discover إِقداميmy daring
ما بَينَنا وَتَعَرَّفي إِقدامي
I am the one you knew: kindle the fire of war
between us, and learn my daring.
إِنif كانَhas قَدalready أَدمىbloodied حُسامُكِyour sword مَفرقيthe crown of my head
إِن كانَ قَد أَدمى حُسامُكِ مَفرقي
ظُلماًunjustly لَسَوفَsurely will تَرَينَyou see وَقعَthe stroke of حُساميmy sword
ظُلماً لَسَوفَ تَرَينَ وَقعَ حُسامي
If your sword has bloodied the crown of my head
unjustly, you shall surely see my sword's stroke.
لاdo not يُطمِعَنَّكِlet it embolden you فِيَّagainst me هُلكُthe death of مُقَدَّمٍMuqaddam
لا يُطمِعَنَّكِ فِيَّ هُلكُ مُقَدَّمٍ
فَالقَوسُfor the bow قَوسيmy bow وَالسِهامُand the arrows سِهاميmy arrows
فَالقَوسُ قَوسي وَالسِهامُ سِهامي
Do not let Muqaddam's death embolden you against me:
for the bow is my bow, and the arrows my arrows.
وَمُقَدَّمٌand Muqaddam لاno شَكَّdoubt طَودٌa mountain باذِخٌtowering
وَمُقَدَّمٌ لا شَكَّ طَودٌ باذِخٌ
يَعلُوrises عَلىabove الهَضَباتِthe plateaus وَالآكامِand the hills
يَعلُو عَلى الهَضَباتِ وَالآكامِ
And Muqaddam was, beyond doubt, a towering mountain,
rising above the plateaus and hills.
وَلَقَدand indeed فَقَدناwe lost مِنهُin him أَروَعَa splendid man ماجِداًnoble
وَلَقَد فَقَدنا مِنهُ أَروَعَ ماجِداً
سَهلَeasy الجَنابِof approach مُؤَدَّبَwell-mannered الخُدّامِservants
سَهلَ الجَنابِ مُؤَدَّبَ الخُدّامِ
Indeed, in him we lost a splendid, noble man,
easy of approach, with well-mannered servants.
كَمhow many مُقلَةٍan eye ذَرَفَتshed tears عَلَيهِover him وَكَمand how many حَشىًa heart
كَم مُقلَةٍ ذَرَفَت عَلَيهِ وَكَم حَشىً
لِمَماتِهِat his death حُشِيَتwas filled بِنارِwith the fire of غَرامِanguish
لِمَماتِهِ حُشِيَت بِنارِ غَرامِ
How many an eye wept over him, and how many a heart
was filled, at his death, with a fire of anguish!
ياO طِيبَthe sweetness of دَولتِهِhis reign الَّتيwhose أَيّامُهاits days
يا طِيبَ دَولتِهِ الَّتي أَيّامُها
شِيَةُthe adornment of الزَمانِtime وَغُرَّةُand the white blaze of الأَيّامِthe days
شِيَةُ الزَمانِ وَغُرَّةُ الأَيّامِ
How sweet his reign, whose days
were time's beauty-mark and the white blaze of days!
لَوif كانَwere يَفدِيهِwould ransom him الرَدىdeath لَفَدَيتُهُI would surely ransom him
لَو كانَ يَفدِيهِ الرَدى لَفَدَيتُهُ
بِأَكارمِwith the noblest of الأَخوالِmaternal uncles وَالأَعمامِand paternal uncles
بِأَكارمِ الأَخوالِ وَالأَعمامِ
If death would let him be ransomed, I would redeem him
with the noblest of maternal and paternal uncles.
ياO شامِتاًyou who gloat جَهلاًignorantly بِيَومِover the day of وَفاتِهِhis death
يا شامِتاً جَهلاً بِيَومِ وَفاتِهِ
صَبراًwait فَماfor not الدُنياthe world بِدارِan abode of مُقامِlasting residence
صَبراً فَما الدُنيا بِدارِ مُقامِ
O you who gloat in ignorance over the day he died,
just wait: this world is no abiding home.
إِنif كانَwas ذَاكَthat العَرشُthrone ثُلَّtoppled فَقَدthen indeed رَسىstood firm
إِن كانَ ذَاكَ العَرشُ ثُلَّ فَقَد رَسى
فيin إِثرِهِits wake عَلمٌa mountain مِنَamong الأَعلامِthe mountains
في إِثرِهِ عَلمٌ مِنَ الأَعلامِ
If that throne was toppled, there stands firm
in its wake a mountain among mountains.
أَوor كانَwas ذاكَthat السَيفُsword فُلَّblunted فَقَدthen indeed أَتىhas come
أَو كانَ ذاكَ السَيفُ فُلَّ فَقَد أَتى
سَيفٌa sword إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle سُلَّunsheathed غَيرُnot كَهامِblunt
سَيفٌ إِذا ما سُلَّ غَيرُ كَهامِ
Or if that sword was blunted, there has come
a sword that, once unsheathed, is never dull.
فيon أَيِّwhich يَومٍday لَمnot نُصَبwere we afflicted بِمُتَوَّجٍby a crowned ruler's loss
في أَيِّ يَومٍ لَم نُصَب بِمُتَوَّجٍ
ضَخمِgreat الدَسيعَةِin bounty صادِقِtrue الإِقدامِin courage
ضَخمِ الدَسيعَةِ صادِقِ الإِقدامِ
On what day have we not been stricken by losing a crowned ruler,
lavish in bounty, unfailing in attack?
لَكِنَّyet فيناamong us عِندَat كُلِّevery مُصيبَةٍcalamity
لَكِنَّ فينا عِندَ كُلِّ مُصيبَةٍ
تَستَوكِفُdraws forth العَبَراتِtears صَبرُthe patience of كِرامِnoble men
تَستَوكِفُ العَبَراتِ صَبرُ كِرامِ
Yet within us, at each calamity
that draws tears, is the patience of noble men.
وَإِذاand when مَضىpasses away مِنّاfrom us هُمامٌa valiant man ماجِدٌnoble
وَإِذا مَضى مِنّا هُمامٌ ماجِدٌ
لَمnot يَمضِdoes he depart إِلّاexcept عَنfrom طَريقِthe path of هُمامِa valiant man
لَم يَمضِ إِلّا عَن طَريقِ هُمامِ
And when a noble, valiant man departs from us,
he goes only to make way for another valiant man.
هَلdid شَدَّbind عَقدَthe knot of التاجِthe crown بَعدَafter مُقَدَّمٍMuqaddam
هَل شَدَّ عَقدَ التاجِ بَعدَ مُقَدَّمٍ
إِلّاexcept فَتىthe champion of قَوميmy people وَسِلكُand the thread of نِظاميmy necklace
إِلّا فَتى قَومي وَسِلكُ نِظامي
Who bound the crown's knot after Muqaddam
but my people's champion, the thread of my necklace?
مَنwho فيamong المُلوكِkings إِذاwhen تُعَدُّthey are counted كَفاضِلٍlike Fadil
مَن في المُلوكِ إِذا تُعَدُّ كَفاضِلٍ
لِعَطاfor giving الرَغائِبِcoveted gifts أَوor لِضَربِfor striking الهامِheads
لِعَطا الرَغائِبِ أَو لِضَربِ الهامِ
Who among kings, when counted, is like Fadil
in granting coveted gifts or striking heads?
مَلِكٌa king إِذاwhen قابَلتَyou face غُرَّةَthe radiance of وَجهِهِhis face
مَلِكٌ إِذا قابَلتَ غُرَّةَ وَجهِهِ
مُستَجدِياًseeking gifts قابَلتَyou face بَدرَa full moon تَمامِof perfect fullness
مُستَجدِياً قابَلتَ بَدرَ تَمامِ
A king: when you face the brightness of his face,
seeking a gift, you face a moon at its full.
وَإِذاand when نَظَرتَyou look إِلىat اِنهِلالِthe pouring of يَمينِهِhis right hand
وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى اِنهِلالِ يَمينِهِ
يَومَon the day of النَوالِgiving رَأَيتَyou see فَيضَthe downpour of غَمامِclouds
يَومَ النَوالِ رَأَيتَ فَيضَ غَمامِ
And when you look upon the outpouring of his right hand
on a day of bounty, you see a cloud's downpour.
وَإِذاand when اِنتَضىhe unsheathes العضبَthe keen sword المُهَنَّدَIndian-forged وَاِعِتَزىand proclaims his lineage
وَإِذا اِنتَضى العضبَ المُهَنَّدَ وَاِعِتَزى
أَيقَنتyou know for certain أَنَّthat اليَومَthe day يَومُa day of صِدامِcombat
أَيقَنت أَنَّ اليَومَ يَومُ صِدامِ
And when he draws the keen Indian-forged sword and proclaims his lineage,
you know for certain that the day is a day of combat.
لَوif لَمnot يَقُمhe had risen فيin المُلكِkingship ضاعَit would be lost وَلَمand not يَعُدreturn
لَو لَم يَقُم في المُلكِ ضاعَ وَلَم يَعُد
عُمرَfor the lifetime of السِنينِthe years وَمُدَّةَand the span of الأَعوامِthe years
عُمرَ السِنينِ وَمُدَّةَ الأَعوامِ
Had he not taken up kingship, it would have been lost, never to return
through the lifetime of years and the whole span of ages.
يَوماهُhis two days يَومُa day of نَدىًbounty وَيَومُand a day of وَغىًwar فَماso as long as
يَوماهُ يَومُ نَدىً وَيَومُ وَغىً فَما
دامَتendure صَوارِمُهُhis keen swords فَهُنَّthen they دَوامِare bloodied
دامَت صَوارِمُهُ فَهُنَّ دَوامِ
His days are two: a day of bounty and a day of war; as long
as his keen swords endure, they drip with blood.
وَالكَرُّand charging بَعدَafter الفَرِّretreat عادَتُهُhis habit إِذاwhen
وَالكَرُّ بَعدَ الفَرِّ عادَتُهُ إِذا
ضاقَnarrows المَكَرُّthe charging ground وَقيلَand a call is made بِالإِحجامِfor retreat
ضاقَ المَكَرُّ وَقيلَ بِالإِحجامِ
Charging back after retreat is his habit when
the space for charging narrows and men call for retreat.
كَمhow many وَقعَةٍa battle تَرَكَhe left العِدىthe enemies وَجِباهُهاand their foreheads
كَم وَقعَةٍ تَرَكَ العِدى وَجِباهُها
لِلسَيفِto the sword ساجِدَةٌprostrate عَلىupon الأَقدامِthe feet
لِلسَيفِ ساجِدَةٌ عَلى الأَقدامِ
In how many a battle has he left his enemies, their foreheads
prostrate to the sword at their feet!
وَلَطالَماand often indeed خَلّىhe left الرُؤوسَthe heads كَأَنَّهاas though they
وَلَطالَما خَلّى الرُؤوسَ كَأَنَّها
لِلبُعدِbecause of separation ساخِطَةٌresentful عَلىtoward الأَجسامِthe bodies
لِلبُعدِ ساخِطَةٌ عَلى الأَجسامِ
And how often he has left heads as though,
in their separation, they resented their bodies!
طَودٌa mountain إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الحِلمُforbearance كانَis نَباهَةًdistinction
طَودٌ إِذا ما الحِلمُ كانَ نَباهَةً
وَإِذاand when يُهاجُhe is provoked فَأَيُّthen what a لَيثِlion of زِحامِclose combat
وَإِذا يُهاجُ فَأَيُّ لَيثِ زِحامِ
A mountain when forbearance is distinction;
but when provoked, what a lion in the press of battle!
أَمضىkeener عَلىamid الأَهوالِterrors مِنthan ذيone possessing رَونَقٍluster
أَمضى عَلى الأَهوالِ مِن ذي رَونَقٍ
صافيpure الحَديدَةِof steel مِخذَمٍkeen-cutting صَمصامِan unbending sword
صافي الحَديدَةِ مِخذَمٍ صَمصامِ
Keener amid terrors than a gleaming blade
of pure steel, cleaving and unbending.
مُتَوَقِّدُablaze العَزَماتِin resolves تَأبىrejects نَفسُهُhis soul
مُتَوَقِّدُ العَزَماتِ تَأبى نَفسُهُ
لَغوَidle الحَديثِtalk وَمَجلِسَand a gathering of الآثامِsins
لَغوَ الحَديثِ وَمَجلِسَ الآثامِ
His resolves are aflame; his soul rejects
idle talk and gatherings of sin.
لَوif أَنَّthat لِلعَضبِfor the keen sword المُهَنَّدِIndian-forged عَزمَهُhis resolve
لَو أَنَّ لِلعَضبِ المُهَنَّدِ عَزمَهُ
لَأَراكَit would show you كَالشَمّامِlike muskmelon صَخرَthe rock of شَمامِShamam
لَأَراكَ كَالشَمّامِ صَخرَ شَمامِ
Had the keen Indian-forged sword his resolve,
it would show you Shamam's rock as though it were melon.
لَوif أَنَّthat لِلضِرغامِfor the lion بَعضَsome of إِبائِهِhis proud defiance
لَو أَنَّ لِلضِرغامِ بَعضَ إِبائِهِ
لَاِستَبدَلَit would take instead الآكامَthe hills بِالآجامِin place of thickets
لَاِستَبدَلَ الآكامَ بِالآجامِ
Had the lion a little of his proud defiance,
it would forsake the thickets for the hills.
لَوif أَنَّthat لِلبَحرِfor the sea الخِضَمِّvast سَماحَهُhis generosity
لَو أَنَّ لِلبَحرِ الخِضَمِّ سَماحَهُ
لَغَداit would become مَقِيلَa noonday resting-place for العِينِwide-eyed wild cattle وَالآرامِand gazelles
لَغَدا مَقِيلَ العِينِ وَالآرامِ
Had the vast sea his generosity,
it would become a noonday resting-place for wild cattle and gazelles.
ماnot حاتِمٌHatim فيin الجُودِgenerosity يَعدِلُهُequals him وَلاnor
ما حاتِمٌ في الجُودِ يَعدِلُهُ وَلا
كَعبٌKa'b وَلاnor قَيسٌQays أَبُوAbu بِسطامِBistam
كَعبٌ وَلا قَيسٌ أَبُو بِسطامِ
Hatim does not equal him in generosity, nor
Ka'b, nor Qays Abu Bistam.
إِقدامُthe daring of جَسّاسٍJassas وَعِزَّةُand the proud dignity of هانِئٍHani'
إِقدامُ جَسّاسٍ وَعِزَّةُ هانِئٍ
وَعَفافُand the chastity of بِسطامٍBistam وَنَفسُand the spirit of عِصامِIsam
وَعَفافُ بِسطامٍ وَنَفسُ عِصامِ
His are the daring of Jassas and the proud dignity of Hani',
the chastity of Bistam and the spirit of Isam.
مِنfrom مَعشَرٍa people بِيضِwhite الوُجُوهِof face أَعِزَّةٍmighty
مِن مَعشَرٍ بِيضِ الوُجُوهِ أَعِزَّةٍ
سُمحٍgenerous عَلىdespite العِلّاتِadversities غَيرِnot لِئامِbase
سُمحٍ عَلى العِلّاتِ غَيرِ لِئامِ
He comes from a people bright of face and mighty,
generous despite adversity, never base,
وَقِرىand an offering of النُفوسِlives إِذاwhen تَحَطَّمَتِshatter القَناthe lances
وَقِرى النُفوسِ إِذا تَحَطَّمَتِ القَنا
فيagainst الدارِعينَthe armored men وَفَرَّand flees كُلُّevery مُحامِdefender
في الدارِعينَ وَفَرَّ كُلُّ مُحامِ
and lavish with their lives when lances shatter
against armored men and every defender flees.
لاnot يَفزَعُونَdo they seek recourse إِذاwhen الصَريخُthe cry for help دَهاهُمُassails them
لا يَفزَعُونَ إِذا الصَريخُ دَهاهُمُ
إِلّاexcept إِلىto الإِسراجِsaddling وَالإِلجامِand bridling
إِلّا إِلى الإِسراجِ وَالإِلجامِ
They seek no recourse, when a cry for help assails them,
except in saddling and bridling.
وَإِذاand when الرِجالُmen تَحَلَّلَتcome apart آراؤُهاtheir counsels
وَإِذا الرِجالُ تَحَلَّلَت آراؤُها
كانُواthey are وُلاةَmasters of النَقضِunbinding وَالإِبرامِand binding
كانُوا وُلاةَ النَقضِ وَالإِبرامِ
And when men's counsels fall apart,
they hold the power to unbind and bind.
وَإِذاand when السُنونُfamine years تتَابَعَتfollow one another أَلفَيتَهُمyou find them
وَإِذا السُنونُ تتَابَعَت أَلفَيتَهُم
كَنزَa treasure for العُفاةِpetitioners وَكافِليand guardians of الأَيتامِorphans
كَنزَ العُفاةِ وَكافِلي الأَيتامِ
And when years of famine follow one another, you find them
a treasure for petitioners and guardians of orphans.
مَلَكُواthey conquered الأَقاليمَthe regions العِظامَgreat وَأَهلَهاand their inhabitants
مَلَكُوا الأَقاليمَ العِظامَ وَأَهلَها
بِالمُرهَفاتِwith keen blades البيضِwhite لاnot الأَقلامِpens
بِالمُرهَفاتِ البيضِ لا الأَقلامِ
They conquered great regions and their people
with keen white blades, not pens.
وَتَفَيَّحُواand spread through كُلَّall البِلادِthe lands وَسُيِّرَتand were carried abroad
وَتَفَيَّحُوا كُلَّ البِلادِ وَسُيِّرَت
أَخبارُهُمtheir tidings فيin مَغرِبٍthe west وَشَآمِand Sham
أَخبارُهُم في مَغرِبٍ وَشَآمِ
They spread throughout all lands, and abroad were borne
their tidings, in the west and Sham.
إِنif فُوخِرُواchallenged in boasting جاؤُواthey come بِفَضلٍwith Fadl ذيpossessor of النَدىbounty
إِن فُوخِرُوا جاؤُوا بِفَضلٍ ذي النَدى
وَبِجَعفَرٍand with Ja'far وَشَبِيبٍand Shabib القَمقامِthe mighty chief
وَبِجَعفَرٍ وَشَبِيبٍ القَمقامِ
If challenged in boasting, they bring forth Fadl, the bountiful,
and Ja'far, and Shabib the mighty chief,
وَأَبىand Abu سِنانٍSinan وَاِبنِهِand his son وَمُحمَّدٍand Muhammad
وَأَبى سِنانٍ وَاِبنِهِ وَمُحمَّدٍ
مُدنيbringing near اليَسارِwealth وَمُبعِدِand banishing الإِعدامِdestitution
مُدني اليَسارِ وَمُبعِدِ الإِعدامِ
and Abu Sinan, his son, and Muhammad,
who brings wealth near and banishes destitution.
ياO اِبنَson of المُلوكِthe kings النازِلينَdwelling مِنَamong العُلىthe heights
يا اِبنَ المُلوكِ النازِلينَ مِنَ العُلى
فيon كُلِّevery ذِروَةِcrest of غارِبٍwithers وَسَنامِand hump
في كُلِّ ذِروَةِ غارِبٍ وَسَنامِ
O son of kings who dwell, among the heights,
on every crest of withers and hump,
يَفديكَmay ransom you لِلعَلياءِfor high glory كُلُّevery مُضَلَّلٍmisguided man
يَفديكَ لِلعَلياءِ كُلُّ مُضَلَّلٍ
أَعمىblind عَنِto المَعرُوفِgoodness أَوor مُتَعامِfeigning blindness
أَعمى عَنِ المَعرُوفِ أَو مُتَعامِ
may every misguided man be your ransom for glory,
blind to goodness or feigning blindness.
وَليَهنِكَand may it gladden you المُلكُthe kingship الَّذيwhich أَسَّستَهُyou founded it
وَليَهنِكَ المُلكُ الَّذي أَسَّستَهُ
بِالكُرهِagainst the will مِنof شانيكَyour hater وَالإِرغامِand humiliation
بِالكُرهِ مِن شانيكَ وَالإِرغامِ
May the kingship you founded bring you joy,
against your hater's will and to his humiliation.
وَاِرفَعand exalt وَضَعand abase وَاِقطَعand sever وَصِلand join وَاِمنَعand withhold وَهَبand give
وَاِرفَع وَضَع وَاِقطَع وَصِل وَاِمنَع وَهَب
وَاِنفَعand help وَضُرَّand harm وَقُمand stand firm وَسامِand vie for eminence وَرامِand exchange arrows
وَاِنفَع وَضُرَّ وَقُم وَسامِ وَرامِ
Exalt and abase, sever and join, withhold and give;
help and harm, stand firm, vie for glory, and trade arrows.
وَاِخفِضand lower جَناحَكَyour wing لِلعَشيرَةِto the clan وَاِرعَهاand tend it
وَاِخفِض جَناحَكَ لِلعَشيرَةِ وَاِرعَها
بِرِعايَةِwith the care of الإِجلالِhonoring وَالإِعظامِand reverence
بِرِعايَةِ الإِجلالِ وَالإِعظامِ
Lower your wing to the clan, and tend it
with care that honors and reveres.
وَاِشدُدand strengthen يَداًa hand بِأَبيwith Abu قِناعٍQina' إِنَّهُfor he
وَاِشدُد يَداً بِأَبي قِناعٍ إِنَّهُ
نِعمَexcellent is المُحاميthe defender دُونَهاin its defense وَالحاميand the protector
نِعمَ المُحامي دُونَها وَالحامي
Strengthen your hand with Abu Qina', for he
is a fine defender on its behalf, and its protector.
وَاِشكُرand thank لَهُhim السَعيَthe striving الَّذيwhich اِنقادَتsubmitted بِهِthrough it
وَاِشكُر لَهُ السَعيَ الَّذي اِنقادَت بِهِ
لَكَto you وُلدthe children of سامٍShem حَيثُwherever شِئتَyou wished وَحامِand Ham
لَكَ وُلد سامٍ حَيثُ شِئتَ وَحامِ
Thank him for the striving through which there submitted
to you, wherever you wished, the children of Shem and Ham.
وَاِرضَand approve الَّذيwhat يَرضىhe approves وَقَدِّمand give precedence to أَمرَهُhis command
وَاِرضَ الَّذي يَرضى وَقَدِّم أَمرَهُ
وَأَطِعهُand obey him طاعَةَwith the obedience of مُقتَدٍa follower لِإِمامِto an imam
وَأَطِعهُ طاعَةَ مُقتَدٍ لِإِمامِ
Approve what he approves, and give his command precedence;
obey him as a follower obeys an imam.
وَأَبُوand Abu قِناعٍQina' غَيرُnot نِكسٍa weakling إِنif عَرىbefalls
وَأَبُو قِناعٍ غَيرُ نِكسٍ إِن عَرى
خَطبٌa calamity شَديدُfierce الأَخذِin seizing بِالأَكظامِat the throats
خَطبٌ شَديدُ الأَخذِ بِالأَكظامِ
Abu Qina' is no weakling when there strikes
a calamity that grips fiercely at the throats.
الطاعِنُthe piercer of الفُرسانَhorsemen كُلَّevery مُرِشَّةٍblood-spraying wound
الطاعِنُ الفُرسانَ كُلَّ مُرِشَّةٍ
تَنثاعُgushing مِنfrom خَلفٍbehind وَمِنand from قُدّامِin front
تَنثاعُ مِن خَلفٍ وَمِن قُدّامِ
He pierces horsemen with wounds that all spurt blood,
gushing from behind and from before;
وَالمُطعِمُand the feeder of الضِيفانَguests مِنfrom قَمَعِdrooping الذُرىhumps
وَالمُطعِمُ الضِيفانَ مِن قَمَعِ الذُرى
عَبطاًslaughtered while sound إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle ضُنَّis begrudged بِالجُلّامِyoung goats
عَبطاً إِذا ما ضُنَّ بِالجُلّامِ
and feeds his guests on camels with drooping humps,
slaughtered sound, when even young goats are grudged.
أَحياhe revived جُرَيّاًJurayy فيin السَماحَةِgenerosity وَاِبتَنيand built for himself
أَحيا جُرَيّاً في السَماحَةِ وَاِبتَني
شَرَفاًan honor أَنافَthat towered عُلىًin height عَلىabove بَهرامِBahram
شَرَفاً أَنافَ عُلىً عَلى بَهرامِ
He revived Jurayy in generosity, and built himself
an honor that towered high above Bahram.
لَمnot يَبقَremains فيamong حَيّيthe two tribes of نِزارٍNizar مِثلُهُhis equal
لَم يَبقَ في حَيّي نِزارٍ مِثلُهُ
لِسَدادِfor closing ثَغرٍa frontier breach أَوor لِعَقدِfor binding ذِمامِa pact of protection
لِسَدادِ ثَغرٍ أَو لِعَقدِ ذِمامِ
No equal of his remains among Nizar's two tribes
to close a frontier breach or bind a pact of protection.
يُنمىhis lineage is traced إِلىto الشُمِّthe proud الغَطارِفِnoble chiefs وَالذُرىand the summits
يُنمى إِلى الشُمِّ الغَطارِفِ وَالذُرى
مِنof حارِثٍHarith وَالسادَةِand the lords الحُكّامِthe rulers
مِن حارِثٍ وَالسادَةِ الحُكّامِ
His descent is traced to the proud, noble chiefs and summits
of Harith, and to the lordly rulers.
وَلِحارِثٍand to Harith عُرِفَتwas acknowledged رِئاسَةُthe leadership of عامِرٍAmir
وَلِحارِثٍ عُرِفَت رِئاسَةُ عامِرٍ
فيin جاهِلِيَّتِهاits pre-Islamic age وَفيand in الإِسلامِIslam
في جاهِلِيَّتِها وَفي الإِسلامِ
Harith's leadership over Amir was acknowledged
in its pre-Islamic days and in Islam.
لَيسُواthey are not كَقَومٍlike a people كُلُّall ماthat عُرِفُواthey were known بِهِfor it
لَيسُوا كَقَومٍ كُلُّ ما عُرِفُوا بِهِ
ثِقلُthe heaviness of النُفوسِsouls وَخِفَّةُand the lightness of الأَحلامِminds
ثِقلُ النُفوسِ وَخِفَّةُ الأَحلامِ
They are not like a people whose only known traits
are heavy souls and lightweight minds.
لاmay you never زلتَcease to be مَحرُوسَguarded الجَنابِin your domain مُؤَيَّداًsupported
لا زلتَ مَحرُوسَ الجَنابِ مُؤَيَّداً
بِالنَصرِby victory مَحبُوّاًendowed بِكُلِّwith every مَرامِaim
بِالنَصرِ مَحبُوّاً بِكُلِّ مَرامِ
May you ever be guarded on all sides, supported
by victory, endowed with all you seek.