بَني نَهشَلٍ هَلّا أَصابَت رِماحُكُم

بَني نَهشَلٍ هَلّا أَصابَت رِماحُكُم

عَلى حَنثَلٍ فيما يُصادِفنَ مَربَعا

عَلى حَنثَلٍ فيما يُصادِفنَ مَربَعا

O sons of Nahshal, why did your spears not strike

O sons of Nahshal, they came as spears upon

Mirba‘, among those they encountered, for Hanthal’s sake?

Hanthal amid squares though it wasn't time

وَجَدتُم زَباباً كانَ أَضعَفَ ناصِراً

وَجَدتُم زَباباً كانَ أَضعَفَ ناصِراً

وَأَقرَبَ مِن دارِ الهَوانِ وَأَضرَعا

وَأَقرَبَ مِن دارِ الهَوانِ وَأَضرَعا

You found shrews that were weaker in support,

You found Zabab, the weakest aid,

And nearer the abode of humiliation, and more abject.

Nearest abode of dishonor and most yielding

قَتَلتُم بِهِ ثَولَ الضِباعِ فَغادَرَت

قَتَلتُم بِهِ ثَولَ الضِباعِ فَغادَرَت

مَناصِلُكُم مِنهُ خَصيلاً مُوَضَّعا

مَناصِلُكُم مِنهُ خَصيلاً مُوَضَّعا

You killed a swarm of hyenas for him; then

With him, you killed the foxes' whelps then left

Your blades left it cut down and laid low.

Your palms' joints on him, settled in their place

فَكَيفَ يَنامُ اِبنا صُبَيحٍ وَمِربَعٌ

فَكَيفَ يَنامُ اِبنا صُبَيحٍ وَمِربَعٌ

عَلى حَنثَلٍ يُسقى الحَليبَ المُنَقَّعا

عَلى حَنثَلٍ يُسقى الحَليبَ المُنَقَّعا

So how can Subayh’s two sons and Mirba‘ sleep,

How can Ibn Subeih and Murabba sleep

While Hanthal is served fresh milk left to cool?

While spears at Hanthal are milked, freshly wet?