وَمَولىً ضَعيفِ النَصرِ ناءٍ مَحَلُّهُ

وَمَولىً ضَعيفِ النَصرِ ناءٍ مَحَلُّهُ

جَشِمتُ لَهُ ما لَيسَ مِنّي جاشِمُهُ

جَشِمتُ لَهُ ما لَيسَ مِنّي جاشِمُهُ

And an ally with little support, whose dwelling lies far away—

I have a master, weak in his victory, complaining is his trait

I bore for him what he would not bear for me.

I have borne for him what was not in me to bear

إِذا ما رَآني مُقبِلاً شَدَّ صَوتَهُ

إِذا ما رَآني مُقبِلاً شَدَّ صَوتَهُ

عَلى القِرنِ وَاِعلَولى عَلى مَن يُخاصِمُهُ

عَلى القِرنِ وَاِعلَولى عَلى مَن يُخاصِمُهُ

Whenever he sees me approaching, he raises his voice

When he sees me coming, he raises his voice

against his rival and towers over whoever disputes with him.

Against the spear, and makes a fuss against whoever contends with him

وَأَجرَدٍ مَيّاحٍ وَهَبَت بِسَرجِهِ

وَأَجرَدٍ مَيّاحٍ وَهَبَت بِسَرجِهِ

لِمُختَبِطٍ أَو ذي دَلالٍ أَكاتِمُهُ

لِمُختَبِطٍ أَو ذي دَلالٍ أَكاتِمُهُ

And a sleek horse, swaying in its stride, I gave with its saddle

A gaunt, bellowing camel, its saddle given up

to a petitioner or an intimate with whom I share secrets.

To a lost one, or to one who hides me

عَلى أَنَّ قَومي أَسلَموني وَعُرَّتي

عَلى أَنَّ قَومي أَسلَموني وَعُرَّتي

وَقَومُ الفَتى أَظفارُهُ وَدَعائِمُهُ

وَقَومُ الفَتى أَظفارُهُ وَدَعائِمُهُ

Though my clan has abandoned me to my disgrace,

Though my people have left me vulnerable, and my honor

and a man's clan are his claws and his pillars.

A young man's people are his claws and his pillars