أرضٌa field مُرَبَّعةٌsquare حمراءُred منof أدَمٍleather
أرضٌ مُرَبَّعةٌ حمراءُ من أدَمٍ
ماemphatic particle بينbetween إلفَينِtwo close companions معرفَينknown بالكرَمِfor generosity
ما بين إلفَينِ معرفَين بالكرَمِ
A square, red field of leather,
A square land, red from bloodshed
Between two companions known for generosity.
Between two honorable men known for their generosity
تذاكَراthe two discussed الحربَwar فاحتالاso the two contrived لهاfor it حِيَلاًstratagems
تذاكَرا الحربَ فاحتالا لها حِيَلاً
منfrom غيرِother than أنthat يأثَماthe two sin فيهاin it بسَفكِby shedding دَمِblood
من غيرِ أن يأثَما فيها بسَفكِ دَمِ
They discussed war and devised stratagems for it,
They discussed war and plotted strategies
Without sinning in it by shedding blood.
Without sinning by shedding blood
هذاthis one يُغيرُraids علىagainst هذاthis one وذاكَand that one علىagainst
هذا يُغيرُ على هذا وذاكَ على
هذاthis one يُغيرُraids وعَينُand the eye الحَزمِof prudence لمdid not تَنَمِsleep
هذا يُغيرُ وعَينُ الحَزمِ لم تَنَمِ
This one raids the other; and that one, against
One raids the other and the other retaliates
This one, raids—while the eye of prudence has not slept.
Keeping watch with wisdom's discerning eye
فانظُرso look إلىat فِطَنٍkeen wits جالتranged بِمَعرِفَةٍwith understanding
فانظُر إلى فِطَنٍ جالت بِمَعرِفَةٍ
فيin عسكَرينِtwo armies بلاwithout طَبلٍa drum ولاand no عَلَمِa banner
في عسكَرينِ بلا طَبلٍ ولا عَلَمِ
So behold keen wits that ranged with understanding
See a wise leader moving with knowledge
In two armies, without drum or banner.
Through two encampments with no drums or flags