إِنّا نَعيبُ وَلانُعابُ

إِنّا نَعيبُ وَلانُعابُ

وَنُصيبُ مِنكَ وَلا نُصابُ

وَنُصيبُ مِنكَ وَلا نُصابُ

We find fault, but are not faulted.

We find fault, but are not without fault;

And we strike at you, but are not struck.

We share wrongfully, but are not robbed.

آلُ النَبيِّ وَمَن تَقَل

آلُ النَبيِّ وَمَن تَقَل

لَبَ في حُجورِهِمُ الكِتابُ

لَبَ في حُجورِهِمُ الكِتابُ

The Prophet's family, those in whose

The family of the Prophet and those who memorized

laps the Book was turned.

The Quran reside in their hearts.

خُلِقَت لَهُم سُمرُ القَنا

خُلِقَت لَهُم سُمرُ القَنا

وَالبيضُ وَالخَيلُ العُرابُ

وَالبيضُ وَالخَيلُ العُرابُ

For them were fashioned dusky spear-shafts,

Dark-lipped maidens and Arabian steeds were created for them,

bright swords, and purebred Arabian horses.

So, excuse me, for life's days are booty to seize or debt to incur.

فاقَني حَياؤُكَ إِن

فاقَني حَياؤُكَ إِن

نَما الأَيّامُ غُنمٌ أَو نِهابُ

نَما الأَيّامُ غُنمٌ أَو نِهابُ

So hold fast to your modesty, for

He who tastes the draft of death will never again enjoy a drink.

the days are only gain or plunder.

And you see the clouds hung, while fate and destiny decide between hope and punishment,

مَن لَذَّ وِردَ المَوتِ لا

مَن لَذَّ وِردَ المَوتِ لا

يَصفو لَهُ أَبَداً شَرابُ

يَصفو لَهُ أَبَداً شَرابُ

For one who savors death's draught, no

Where the longing one hopes for reward, and the sinner fears retribution.

drink is ever clear.

A people, when time frowns at them, they show patience and respond gracefully,

وَتَطَرَّفي حَيثُ السَما

وَتَطَرَّفي حَيثُ السَما

حُ الغَمرُ وَالحَسَبُ اللُبابُ

حُ الغَمرُ وَالحَسَبُ اللُبابُ

And seek out where generosity

And when called upon for help, on horseback they are valiant.

is abundant and noble lineage pure.

You race down the heights, O sons of ‘Adi; it is as if

في حَيثُ لِلراجي الثَوا

في حَيثُ لِلراجي الثَوا

بُ نَدىً وَلِلجاني العِقابُ

بُ نَدىً وَلِلجاني العِقابُ

Where, for the hopeful, reward

Swords in your midst have been sharpened.

is bounty, and for the offender, punishment.

You were only crows croaking over decayed remains,

قَومٌ إِذا غَمَزَ الزَما

قَومٌ إِذا غَمَزَ الزَما

نُ قُنيَّهُم كَرُموا وَطابوا

نُ قُنيَّهُم كَرُموا وَطابوا

A people who, when Time presses

Pecking away until the youth were wasted.

their possessions, grow generous and good.

And today swords unsheathed spar with you,

وَإِذا دَعَوا وَالخَيلُ في الإِج

وَإِذا دَعَوا وَالخَيلُ في الإِج

فالِ ثابوا أَو أَجابوا

فالِ ثابوا أَو أَجابوا

And when they call, while the horses are

And necks and heads are slashed.

fleeing, they rally or answer.

Your blood hides in the darkness of tombs,

أَبَني عَديٍّ إِنَّما

أَبَني عَديٍّ إِنَّما

سالَت بِخَيلِكُمُ الشِعابُ

سالَت بِخَيلِكُمُ الشِعابُ

O sons of ʿAdī, only

Concealed, like gray hair disguised with henna.

with your horses did the ravines flow.

You contended for the darkness of wrong, but the angry lion took hold of it,

وَشَرُفتُمُ بِالطَعنِ وَالدُن

وَشَرُفتُمُ بِالطَعنِ وَالدُن

يا ضِرامٌ أَو ضِرابُ

يا ضِرامٌ أَو ضِرابُ

And you gained honor through spear-thrusts, while the world

And you learned that dawn shows the substrata, and the night conceals.

was blazing fire or striking blows.

There is no peace until the horses' hooves calm,

وَما كُنتُمُ إِلّا البُحو

وَما كُنتُمُ إِلّا البُحو

رَ تَوالَغَت فيها الذِئابُ

رَ تَوالَغَت فيها الذِئابُ

You were nothing but seas

And cease their pounding, and hearts find rest.

where wolves lapped together.

Till the sun's face shines again, with no stain upon it and no mist,

وَقَرَعتُمُ بِالبيضِ حَت

وَقَرَعتُمُ بِالبيضِ حَت

تى ضاعَ في اللِمَمِ الشَبابُ

تى ضاعَ في اللِمَمِ الشَبابُ

And you struck with bright swords, until

Till the hyena reins in the onager, and the old vulture swoops down.

youth was lost among the locks.

Till liberties are abundant in the houses, and clans restrain their envy,

وَاليَومَ تُستَلُّ السُيو

وَاليَومَ تُستَلُّ السُيو

فُ بِهِ وَتَنسَلُّ الرِقابُ

فُ بِهِ وَتَنسَلُّ الرِقابُ

And today the swords are drawn,

Till arms with bracelets adorned are entwined by the sand grouse.

and on this day necks slip away.

Till the meadows and valleys sprout forth from their cloud cover,

كَتَمَت دِماءَكُمُ الظُبى

كَتَمَت دِماءَكُمُ الظُبى

كَالشَيبِ يَكتُمُهُ الخِضابُ

كَالشَيبِ يَكتُمُهُ الخِضابُ

The blade-edges concealed your blood,

Whatever the torrents' downpour has demolished, time can't wash away.

as dye conceals gray hair.

Stars of the night concealed by the darkness' mantle,

فَتَنازَعوا شَمَطَ الظَلا

فَتَنازَعوا شَمَطَ الظَلا

مِ فَخَلفَهُ الأُسدُ الغِضابُ

مِ فَخَلفَهُ الأُسدُ الغِضابُ

So contend for the gray streaks of darkness,

Now the moon gleams openly in the sky, veil lifted.

for behind it are angry lions.

Now to their lairs the great birds retreat, and talons sheathe,

وَتَعَلَّموا أَنَّ الصَبا

وَتَعَلَّموا أَنَّ الصَبا

حَ ضُبارِمٌ وَاللَيلَ غابُ

حَ ضُبارِمٌ وَاللَيلَ غابُ

And learn that morning

Return to that chivalry and scarce has perfidy stirred.

is a mighty lion, and night a thicket.

Seize those dwellings while protected, those tents while tranquility prevails,

لا صُلحَ حَتّى تَطمَئِن

لا صُلحَ حَتّى تَطمَئِن

نَ إِلى مَناسِمِها الرِكابُ

نَ إِلى مَناسِمِها الرِكابُ

No peace until they rest at ease,

Rush to defend those pastures while between you is only kinship.

the riding camels upon their padded feet.

As if your days of love and freedom were shimmering lights,

وَيَعودَ وَجهُ الشَمسِ

وَيَعودَ وَجهُ الشَمسِ

لا نَقعٌ عَلَيهِ وَلا ضَبابُ

لا نَقعٌ عَلَيهِ وَلا ضَبابُ

And the sun's face returns

Adorned in necklaces from which pendants sway.

with neither dust upon it nor mist.

I do not blame nor find fault,

حَتّى تَشَبَّثَ بِالظُبى الأَغ

حَتّى تَشَبَّثَ بِالظُبى الأَغ

مادُ وَالجُردُ الرِحابُ

مادُ وَالجُردُ الرِحابُ

Until the sheaths cling to the blades,

For me, life's path is smooth and wide.

and the broad, smooth ones;

None ever tied me down, desirous or expecting reward.

وَتُمَدَّ أَطنابُ البُيو

وَتُمَدَّ أَطنابُ البُيو

تِ وَتُضمِرَ القَومَ القِبابُ

تِ وَتُضمِرَ القَومَ القِبابُ

and the tent-ropes are stretched out,

Who can bear the blame of a companion who won't accept advice?

and the domed tents conceal the people.

None ever fought time but that it conquers him,

وَتَرَدَّفُ الأَدراعُ مُش

وَتَرَدَّفُ الأَدراعُ مُش

رَجَةً عَلَيهِنَّ العِيابُ

رَجَةً عَلَيهِنَّ العِيابُ

And the coats of mail are overlaid

And for every saying there is one who listens, for every call, a response.

with clothing-bags fastened atop them.

Alas! How I long for one who is past, for days gone by!

وَتَرى الرُبى وَالرَوضَ يُن

وَتَرى الرُبى وَالرَوضَ يُن

شَرُ مِن مَطارِفِها السَحابُ

شَرُ مِن مَطارِفِها السَحابُ

And you see the hills and meadows,

Friendship is scarce when fortunes shine.

from whose embroidered mantles clouds are unfurled.

Yet when hardship comes, friends mass around you,

ما كانَ فَضَّضَهُ فَضي

ما كانَ فَضَّضَهُ فَضي

ضُ الطَلِّ أَذهَبَهُ الذِهابُ

ضُ الطَلِّ أَذهَبَهُ الذِهابُ

What had been silvered by the sprinkling

While adversity disperses even brothers bound by lineage.

of dew, the showers gilded.

We suckled milk from the same breasts,

كانَت نُجومُ اللَيلِ يَك

كانَت نُجومُ اللَيلِ يَك

تُمُها مِنَ النَقعِ الغَيابُ

تُمُها مِنَ النَقعِ الغَيابُ

The stars of night once

Yet sweet water cannot bring us together.

were concealed by the pall of dust.

A lonely one picks up loose threads when clothes tear and fall apart.

فَالآنَ أَصحَرَ في السَما

فَالآنَ أَصحَرَ في السَما

ءِ البَدرُ وَاِنكَشَفَ النِقابُ

ءِ البَدرُ وَاِنكَشَفَ النِقابُ

Now there stands revealed in the sky

To him flock partridges, hares, and grazing cattle.

the full moon, and the veil is lifted.

He scarcely can bear his belongings, only wolves and hyenas do.

وَعَلَت إِلى أَوكارِها العِق

وَعَلَت إِلى أَوكارِها العِق

بانُ وَاِنحَطَّ العُقابُ

بانُ وَاِنحَطَّ العُقابُ

And to their nests rose the eagles,

He cups his hands imploringly so that tears may flow.

while the eagle-banner was lowered.

A barefoot pauper collects crumbs when food falls.

عودوا إِلى ذاكَ الغَدي

عودوا إِلى ذاكَ الغَدي

رِ وَقَلَّ ما غَدَرَ الرُبابُ

رِ وَقَلَّ ما غَدَرَ الرُبابُ

Return to that pool,

To him incline the aged and the young lambs.

for rain-clouds seldom betray.

As if the mantle over his hut at night were a shooting star.

وَتَغَنَّموا تِلكَ المَنا

وَتَغَنَّموا تِلكَ المَنا

زِلَ وَهيَ آمِنَةٌ رِغابُ

زِلَ وَهيَ آمِنَةٌ رِغابُ

And make the most of those dwellings,

Who do I have, O Fate, but days that elicit fury?

which are safe and spacious.

A friend escorts even when matters intensify and speech becomes charged.

وَتَدارَكوا ذَودَ المَسا

وَتَدارَكوا ذَودَ المَسا

رِحِ وَهيَ بَينَكُمُ سِقابُ

رِحِ وَهيَ بَينَكُمُ سِقابُ

And recover the herds of the pastures,

He gives himself for you while war makes shields rattle.

while they are male camel-calves among you.

And a brother from whom affection has been deprived, though our lineage is common.

وَكَأَنَّ أَيّامَ الهَوى

وَكَأَنَّ أَيّامَ الهَوى

فيكُم نَشاوى أَو طِرابُ

فيكُم نَشاوى أَو طِرابُ

As though the days of love

A disputatious man unlike a neighbor who won't compromise his honor,

among you were drunken or merry,

Who finds even a distant home hospitable, though the distance spans far.

مُتَمَنطِقاتٌ بِالحُلّي

مُتَمَنطِقاتٌ بِالحُلّي

وَفي قَلائِدِها المَلابُ

وَفي قَلائِدِها المَلابُ

girdled with jewels,

The borders of his abode crumble from the brush of mirage.

and perfume in their necklaces.

None bears his gear but prey and desolate ruins.

إِنّي عَلى لينِ النَقي

إِنّي عَلى لينِ النَقي

بَةِ لا أُعابُ وَلا أُحابُ

بَةِ لا أُعابُ وَلا أُحابُ

Indeed, despite my gentle nature,

He is awoken by the clamor of specters or phantom visitors in the night.

I am neither faulted nor wronged.

A person who is not made anxious by blame or censure,

ما شُدَّ لي يَوماً عَلى

ما شُدَّ لي يَوماً عَلى

ذُلٍّ وَلا طَمَعٍ حِقابُ

ذُلٍّ وَلا طَمَعٍ حِقابُ

Never, on any day, was tied about me

Great is his affliction. He reaps from his neighbors until insulted.

a girdle of abasement or greed.

My lot in days is to remain while youths visit me.

مَن لي بِغُرَّةِ صاحِبٍ

مَن لي بِغُرَّةِ صاحِبٍ

لا يَستَطيلُ عَلَيهِ عابُ

لا يَستَطيلُ عَلَيهِ عابُ

Who will grant me a radiant-browed companion,

over whom no blemish gains sway?

ما حارَبَ الأَيّامَ إِل

ما حارَبَ الأَيّامَ إِل

لا كانَ لي وَلَهُ الغِلابُ

لا كانَ لي وَلَهُ الغِلابُ

He never fought the days unless

victory was mine and his.

وَلِكُلِّ قَولٍ سامِعٌ

وَلِكُلِّ قَولٍ سامِعٌ

وَلِكُلِّ داعِيَةٍ جَوابُ

وَلِكُلِّ داعِيَةٍ جَوابُ

And every utterance has a listener,

and every summons an answer.

هَيهاتَ أَطلُبُ ما يَطو

هَيهاتَ أَطلُبُ ما يَطو

لُ بِهِ بِعادٌ وَاِقتِرابُ

لُ بِهِ بِعادٌ وَاِقتِرابُ

Alas, I seek what prolongs

both distance and approach.

قَلَّ الصِحابُ فَإِن ظَفِر

قَلَّ الصِحابُ فَإِن ظَفِر

تَ بِنِعمَةٍ كَثُرَ الصِحابُ

تَ بِنِعمَةٍ كَثُرَ الصِحابُ

Companions are few; but if you gain

good fortune, companions abound.

مَن لي بِهِ سَمحاً إِذا

مَن لي بِهِ سَمحاً إِذا

صَفِرَت مِنَ القَومِ الوِطابُ

صَفِرَت مِنَ القَومِ الوِطابُ

Who will grant me one generous when

the people's milk-skins run empty?

غَيرانَ دونَ الجارِ لا

غَيرانَ دونَ الجارِ لا

يَطوي عَزايِمَهُ الحِجابُ

يَطوي عَزايِمَهُ الحِجابُ

Fierce in his neighbor's defense: no

barrier can fold away his resolve.

يَستَعذِبُ المَوماةَ مَنزِلَةً

يَستَعذِبُ المَوماةَ مَنزِلَةً

وَإِن بَعُدَ الإِيابُ

وَإِن بَعُدَ الإِيابُ

He finds the wasteland a pleasant dwelling,

even if the journey home is distant.

رَقَّت حَواشي بَيتِهِ

رَقَّت حَواشي بَيتِهِ

مِمّا يُلاطِمُها السَرابُ

مِمّا يُلاطِمُها السَرابُ

The edges of his tent grow thin

as the mirage buffets them.

لا يَستَقِلُّ بِرَحلِهِ

لا يَستَقِلُّ بِرَحلِهِ

إِلّا الذَوائِبُ وَالهِضابُ

إِلّا الذَوائِبُ وَالهِضابُ

Nothing bears his camp aloft

but the summits and highlands.

تَهفو بِكَفَّيهِ الصَوا

تَهفو بِكَفَّيهِ الصَوا

رِمُ أَو تَسيلُ بِها الكِعابُ

رِمُ أَو تَسيلُ بِها الكِعابُ

In his hands the keen swords flutter,

or dice flow through them.

جَذلانُ يَلتَقِطُ النَسي

جَذلانُ يَلتَقِطُ النَسي

مَ إِذا تَساقَطَتِ الثِيابُ

مَ إِذا تَساقَطَتِ الثِيابُ

Joyful, he catches the breeze

when the garments fall away.

يُنمى إِلَيهِ الشيحُ وَال

يُنمى إِلَيهِ الشيحُ وَال

حَوذانُ وَالإِبِلُ الجِرابُ

حَوذانُ وَالإِبِلُ الجِرابُ

To him are ascribed wormwood and

buttercups, and mangy camels.

وَكَأَنَّ غُرَّتَهُ وَراءَ لِ

وَكَأَنَّ غُرَّتَهُ وَراءَ لِ

ثامِ لَيلَتِهِ شِهابُ

ثامِ لَيلَتِهِ شِهابُ

And his radiant brow, behind the veil

of his night, seems a shooting star.

مَن لي بِهِ يا دَهرُ وَالأَي

مَن لي بِهِ يا دَهرُ وَالأَي

يامُ كالِحَةٌ غِضابُ

يامُ كالِحَةٌ غِضابُ

Who will grant me him, O Time, when the days

are scowling and angry?

إِنَّ الصَديقَ مُشَيَّعٌ

إِنَّ الصَديقَ مُشَيَّعٌ

إِن جَلَّ خَطبٌ أَو خِطابُ

إِن جَلَّ خَطبٌ أَو خِطابُ

A true friend is stout-hearted

when a calamity or challenge grows grave.

وَيَجودُ عَنكَ بِنَفسِهِ

وَيَجودُ عَنكَ بِنَفسِهِ

وَالحَربُ تَقرَعُها الحِرابُ

وَالحَربُ تَقرَعُها الحِرابُ

And freely gives his life for you,

while war rings with the clash of spears.

وَأَخٍ حُرِمتُ الوِدَّ مِن

وَأَخٍ حُرِمتُ الوِدَّ مِن

هُ وَبَينَنا نَسَبٌ قَرابُ

هُ وَبَينَنا نَسَبٌ قَرابُ

Many a brother—I was denied affection

from him, though close kinship binds us.

نازَعتُهُ ثَديَ الرَضاعِ

نازَعتُهُ ثَديَ الرَضاعِ

وَما يَلَذُّ لَنا الشَرابُ

وَما يَلَذُّ لَنا الشَرابُ

I vied with him for the nursing breast,

yet the drink is not sweet to us.

يا سَعدُ أَعظَمُ مِحنَةً

يا سَعدُ أَعظَمُ مِحنَةً

مَن لا يُرَوِّعُهُ العِتابُ

مَن لا يُرَوِّعُهُ العِتابُ

O Saʿd, the greatest affliction is

one whom reproach does not alarm.

يَجني عَلى جيرانِهِ

يَجني عَلى جيرانِهِ

حَتّى يُعاقِبَهُ السِبابُ

حَتّى يُعاقِبَهُ السِبابُ

He wrongs his neighbors

until abuse punishes him.

حَسبي مِنَ الأَيّامِ أَن

حَسبي مِنَ الأَيّامِ أَن

أَبقى وَيُسعِدُني الطِلابُ

أَبقى وَيُسعِدُني الطِلابُ

It is enough for me, from the days, that

I live on and my quest brings me joy.