أَتُوعِدُني كأنّكَ ذو رُعَينٍ

أَتُوعِدُني كأنّكَ ذو رُعَينٍ

بأفضلِ عيشةٍ أو ذو نُوَاسِ

بأفضلِ عيشةٍ أو ذو نُوَاسِ

Do you threaten me as though you were Dhū Ruʿayn,

Do you threaten me as if you were one with power,

enjoying the finest life, or Dhū Nuwās?

Promising the best life or powerful authority,

وكائن كان قَبلك من نعيمٍ

وكائن كان قَبلك من نعيمٍ

ومُلكٍ ثابتٍ في الناس راسي

ومُلكٍ ثابتٍ في الناس راسي

And how much prosperity there was before you,

And whatever luxuries and stable kingdoms were before you among the people,

and dominion, firm among people and deeply rooted,

Ancient of origin from the time of 'Aad,

قديمٍ عَهدُهُ من عهد عادٍ

قديمٍ عَهدُهُ من عهد عادٍ

عظيمٍ قاهر الجَبَرُوتِ قاسي

عظيمٍ قاهر الجَبَرُوتِ قاسي

ancient, its age reaching back to the age of ʿĀd,

Great vanquisher of tyranny, cruel,

mighty, with overwhelming power, and harsh!

Whose people ended in ruin and whose rule

فأمسى أهلُهُ بادوا وأَمسى

فأمسى أهلُهُ بادوا وأَمسى

يُحَوَّلُ من أُناسٍ في أُناسِ

يُحَوَّلُ من أُناسٍ في أُناسِ

Then its people perished, and it came

Would change from one people to another,

to be passed from one people to another.

So do not let your kingdom deceive you - every kingdom

فلا يَغرُركَ مُلكُكَ كلُّ مُلكٍ

فلا يَغرُركَ مُلكُكَ كلُّ مُلكٍ

يَصيرُ مَذَلَّةً بعدَ الشِّماسِ

يَصيرُ مَذَلَّةً بعدَ الشِّماسِ

So do not let your dominion deceive you: every dominion

Becomes disgraced after its zenith.

turns to abasement after proud defiance.