طَرِبَ الشَيخُ وَلا حينَ طَرَب

طَرِبَ الشَيخُ وَلا حينَ طَرَب

وَتَصابى وَصَبا الشَيخِ عَجَب

وَتَصابى وَصَبا الشَيخِ عَجَب

The old man thrilled to rapture—though this was no time for rapture.

The old man grew rapturous, though it was no time for rapture.

He played at youth and yearned like a youth—an old man’s youthful passion is a wonder.

And he played the youth—an old man's passion is a wonder.

وَأَنا الأَخضَرُ مَن يَعرِفُني

وَأَنا الأَخضَرُ مَن يَعرِفُني

أَخضَرُ الجِلدَةِ مِن بَيتِ العَرَب

أَخضَرُ الجِلدَةِ مِن بَيتِ العَرَب

And I am al-Akhdar—as those who know me know—

And I am al-Akhdar, to those who know me,

dark-skinned, from the House of the Arabs.

Dark of skin, from a house of the Arabs.

مَن يُساجِلني يُساجِل ماجِداً

مَن يُساجِلني يُساجِل ماجِداً

يَملَأُ الدَلوَ إِلى عَقدِ الكَرَب

يَملَأُ الدَلوَ إِلى عَقدِ الكَرَب

Whoever vies with me bucket for bucket vies with a man of glory,

Whoever vies with me vies with a noble man,

one who fills the bucket to the knot of its rope.

Who fills the bucket up to the rope's knot.

إِنَّما عَبدُ مُنافٍ جَوهَرٌ

إِنَّما عَبدُ مُنافٍ جَوهَرٌ

زَيَّنَ الجَوهَرَ عَبدُ المُطَّلِب

زَيَّنَ الجَوهَرَ عَبدُ المُطَّلِب

ʿAbd Manāf is a jewel indeed,

Abd Manaf is indeed a jewel;

and ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib adorned the jewel.

Abd al-Muttalib adorned that jewel.

كُلُّ قَومٍ صيغَةٌ مِن فِضَّةٍ

كُلُّ قَومٍ صيغَةٌ مِن فِضَّةٍ

وَبَنو عَبدِ مُنافٍ مِن ذَهَب

وَبَنو عَبدِ مُنافٍ مِن ذَهَب

Every clan is a casting of silver,

Every clan is a casting of silver,

but the sons of ʿAbd Manāf are made of gold.

While the sons of Abd Manaf are of gold.

إنّ قومي ولقومي بسطة

إنّ قومي ولقومي بسطة

منعوا ضيمي وأرخوا من لَبب

منعوا ضيمي وأرخوا من لَبب

Indeed, my people—my people possess ample might:

Indeed my people—and my people have might—

they kept oppression from me and slackened the strap at my throat;

Have shielded me from wrong and slackened the breast-strap.

تركوا عقد لساني مطلقاً

تركوا عقد لساني مطلقاً

بفعال أثلوه ونسب

بفعال أثلوه ونسب

they left the knot of my tongue completely undone,

They left the knot of my tongue untied,

through deeds they rooted deep, and through lineage.

Through noble deeds they established, and through lineage.

أنت أن تأتهم تنزل لهم

أنت أن تأتهم تنزل لهم

باغياً للعرف فيهم لا تخب

باغياً للعرف فيهم لا تخب

If you come to them, you will alight among them

If you come to them and lodge with them,

seeking their bounty—you will not be disappointed.

Seeking bounty among them, you will not be disappointed.

ورسول اللَّه جدي جده

ورسول اللَّه جدي جده

وعلينا كان تنزيل الكتب

وعلينا كان تنزيل الكتب

And the Messenger of God—my grandfather is his grandfather;

And God's Messenger—my forefather is his forefather;

and upon us came down the Scriptures.

And upon us the scriptures were sent down.