يُمسي ضَجيعَ خَريدَةٍ وَمُضاجِعي

يُمسي ضَجيعَ خَريدَةٍ وَمُضاجِعي

عَضبٌ رَقيقُ الشَفرَتَينِ حُسامُ

عَضبٌ رَقيقُ الشَفرَتَينِ حُسامُ

He spends the evening beside a maiden, while my bedfellow

My bedfellow sleeps while I keep vigil,

is a keen, cleaving sword, thin at both edges.

With a sword, sharp and keen of edge.

وَالحَربُ حِرفَتُنا وَبِئسَت حِرفَةٌ

وَالحَربُ حِرفَتُنا وَبِئسَت حِرفَةٌ

إِلّا لِمَن هُوَ في الوَغى مِقدامُ

إِلّا لِمَن هُوَ في الوَغى مِقدامُ

And war is our trade—and a wretched trade it is,

War is our livelihood, a wretched trade,

except for one who is dauntless in battle.

Save for one with courage amidst the fray.

نُعري السُيوفَ فَلا تَزالُ عَوارِياً

نُعري السُيوفَ فَلا تَزالُ عَوارِياً

حَتّى تَكونَ جُفونَهُنَّ الهامُ

حَتّى تَكونَ جُفونَهُنَّ الهامُ

We bare the swords, and they remain naked

We bare our blades that remain sheathed

until heads become their scabbards.

Until their very hilts bring death.

وَالمَوتُ يَسبِقُنا إِلى أَعدائِنا

وَالمَوتُ يَسبِقُنا إِلى أَعدائِنا

تَهفو بِهِ الراياتُ وَالأَعلامِ

تَهفو بِهِ الراياتُ وَالأَعلامِ

And death races ahead of us toward our enemies;

Yet death precedes us to our foes,

the banners and standards flutter with it.

Yearned for by banners and flags.