مَتى شِمتُ بَرقاً لِلصَوارِمِ لامَعا

مَتى شِمتُ بَرقاً لِلصَوارِمِ لامَعا

جَلا ضَوءُهُ يَأسي وَجَلّا المَطامِعا

جَلا ضَوءُهُ يَأسي وَجَلّا المَطامِعا

Whenever I glimpse the sharp swords’ gleaming lightning,

When will I sense the lightning flash of sharpened swords?

its light dispels my despair and brings my aspirations to light.

Its radiance dispelled my despair and ignited ambition.

وَمَن لَم يَلِج لَجَّ المَنايا إِلى المُنى

وَمَن لَم يَلِج لَجَّ المَنايا إِلى المُنى

يَعِش بَينَ أَهلِ العِزِّ في الذُلِّ خاضِعا

يَعِش بَينَ أَهلِ العِزِّ في الذُلِّ خاضِعا

And whoever does not enter death’s depths in pursuit of his hopes

He who does not brave the tides of death and attain his goal

will live among men of honor, submissive in humiliation.

Lives subjugated among the noble in degradation.

فَلا تَكُ هَيّاباً لِأَمرٍ وَإِن بَدا

فَلا تَكُ هَيّاباً لِأَمرٍ وَإِن بَدا

مَهولاً إِذا لَم تَلقَ عَنهُ مُدافِعا

مَهولاً إِذا لَم تَلقَ عَنهُ مُدافِعا

So do not be daunted by a thing, even if it seems

So do not hesitate before any enterprise, though it appear

terrifying, when you find no one to ward it off.

Fraught with danger, if you encounter no opposition.

فَأَجبَنُ أَهلِ الأَرضِ مَن حَقَّ عِلمُهُ

فَأَجبَنُ أَهلِ الأَرضِ مَن حَقَّ عِلمُهُ

بِوَردِ الرَدى أَن يَلتَقي المَوتَ خاشَعا

بِوَردِ الرَدى أَن يَلتَقي المَوتَ خاشَعا

For the most cowardly on earth is one who knows for certain

The most cowardly of men is he whose knowledge forewarns him

that, on approaching doom, he will meet death cowering.

Of the stroke of death, yet meets it not with humility.

وَلَن يَبلَغَ العَلياءَ كَهلٌ وَلَم يَكُن

وَلَن يَبلَغَ العَلياءَ كَهلٌ وَلَم يَكُن

يَمارِسُ حِدَّ الجِدِّ لِلمَجدِ يافِعا

يَمارِسُ حِدَّ الجِدِّ لِلمَجدِ يافِعا

Nor will a middle-aged man attain the heights unless he

None will attain glory unless in the flower of youth

strove intensely for glory in his youth.

He earnestly strives in actions for greatness and honor.