يَعلَمُ الجَدُّ أَنَّني لا أُضامُ

يَعلَمُ الجَدُّ أَنَّني لا أُضامُ

وَمُجيري مِنَ الزَمانِ هُمامُ

وَمُجيري مِنَ الزَمانِ هُمامُ

Fortune knows that I will not be wronged,

The virtuous man knows I do no wrong,

and my protector against time is a valiant man.

And my protector against time is determination,

لَحَماني أَغَرُّ شيمَتُهُ الكَر

لَحَماني أَغَرُّ شيمَتُهُ الكَر

رُ وَنَصلٌ حَلِيُّهُ الإِحرامُ

رُ وَنَصلٌ حَلِيُّهُ الإِحرامُ

I have surely been protected by a radiant champion whose nature is charging,

My companion whose nature is most noble,

and by a blade whose adornment is consecration.

His adornment humility and devotion.

رُبَّ قَولٍ نُمِي إِلَيَّ وَعَزمي

رُبَّ قَولٍ نُمِي إِلَيَّ وَعَزمي

غافِلٌ وَالهُمومُ عَنّي نِيامُ

غافِلٌ وَالهُمومُ عَنّي نِيامُ

Many a saying was reported to me while my resolve

Many words come to me while I am heedless,

lay heedless, and worries slept far from me.

And worries over me are dormant.

وَتَعَرَّفتُ قائِليهِ وَلَكِن

وَتَعَرَّفتُ قائِليهِ وَلَكِن

آهِ لَو كانَ في يَميني حُسامُ

آهِ لَو كانَ في يَميني حُسامُ

And I learned who had said it, and yet—

I know who speaks them, but oh,

ah, if only a sharp sword were in my right hand!

If only a sword were in my right hand!

كَيفَ تَخدي إِلَيهِمُ الذُبَّلُ السُم

كَيفَ تَخدي إِلَيهِمُ الذُبَّلُ السُم

رُ وَتُعدى عَلَيهِمُ الأَقلامُ

رُ وَتُعدى عَلَيهِمُ الأَقلامُ

How the slender, tawny spears would hasten toward them,

How can the worn-out swords attack them

and the pens be unleashed against them!

And pens transgress against them,

دونَ أَن أَقبَلَ المَذَلَّةَ لِلعِز

دونَ أَن أَقبَلَ المَذَلَّةَ لِلعِز

زِ إِباءٌ وَنَخوَةٌ وَعُرامُ

زِ إِباءٌ وَنَخوَةٌ وَعُرامُ

Between me and accepting humiliation stand honor's

Without my accepting humiliation against honor-

defiance, pride, and fierceness,

Pride, magnanimity, and manliness refuse.

وَطِعانٌ تَندَقُّ فيهِ العَوالي

وَطِعانٌ تَندَقُّ فيهِ العَوالي

وَضِرابٌ يَزوَرُّ مِنهُ الحِمامُ

وَضِرابٌ يَزوَرُّ مِنهُ الحِمامُ

and spear-fighting in which long lances shatter,

Thrusts in which peaks are demolished

and sword-fighting from which death recoils.

And blows from which doves flee.

لَستُ أَدري ماذا يَقولُ لِساني

لَستُ أَدري ماذا يَقولُ لِساني

وَفَمي لِلمَقالِ فيهِ اِزدِحامُ

وَفَمي لِلمَقالِ فيهِ اِزدِحامُ

I do not know what my tongue is saying,

I know not what my tongue is saying,

and my mouth is crowded with words.

And my mouth is congested with words.

وَكَأَنَّ الحِمامَ فينا جَنيبٌ

وَكَأَنَّ الحِمامَ فينا جَنيبٌ

يَتبَعُ العَيشَ وَالزَمانُ زِمامُ

يَتبَعُ العَيشَ وَالزَمانُ زِمامُ

It is as though death among us were a led horse,

It is as though among us is a young gazelle

following life, with time as its rein.

Who follows life and time holds the leash.

فَاِصرِفِ الهَمَّ إِنَّما العَيشُ يَومٌ

فَاِصرِفِ الهَمَّ إِنَّما العَيشُ يَومٌ

وَدَعِ القَولَ إِنَّما الدَهرُ عامُ

وَدَعِ القَولَ إِنَّما الدَهرُ عامُ

So turn worry away: life is but a day,

So turn away cares-life is but a day-

and leave off talk: time is but a year.

And leave words-for time is but a year.

أَيُّها العاجِزُ المُكَدَّرُ وِردي

أَيُّها العاجِزُ المُكَدَّرُ وِردي

رُبَّما عَرَّفتَكَ تِلكَ الجُمامُ

رُبَّما عَرَّفتَكَ تِلكَ الجُمامُ

O powerless one who muddies my drinking-water,

O you who are frustrated and vexed, perhaps

those pools have often made you known.

Those turbans will recognize you.

فَاِنتَفِق في الوِجارِ وَاُقعُد ذَليلاً

فَاِنتَفِق في الوِجارِ وَاُقعُد ذَليلاً

قَد كَفاكَ الجُلّى رِجالٌ قِيامُ

قَد كَفاكَ الجُلّى رِجالٌ قِيامُ

So burrow into the den and sit abased;

So beg among the neighbors and sit disgraced

men standing firm have already spared you the grave ordeal.

While men of stature stand guard over you.