فَلمّا لَوينَ عَلى مِعصَمٍ

فَلمّا لَوينَ عَلى مِعصَمٍ

وَكفٍّ خَضيبٍ وإِسوارِها

وَكفٍّ خَضيبٍ وإِسوارِها

So when they wound around a wrist

When she leaned on a soft wrist,

And a henna-dyed hand and its bracelet

And bloodstained hands with bracelets,

فضولَ أَزمّتِها أَسجَدت

فضولَ أَزمّتِها أَسجَدت

سُجودَ النَّصارى لأَحبارِها

سُجودَ النَّصارى لأَحبارِها

The loose ends of their reins, the mounts bowed low,

The excess of her pride made her bow down

As Christians bow before their priests.

The bow of Christians to their monks.

فَلا تأمَننَّ بَياتَ المنونِ

فَلا تأمَننَّ بَياتَ المنونِ

وَكُن حَذِراً حدَّ أَظفارِها

وَكُن حَذِراً حدَّ أَظفارِها

So never feel safe from death's night assault,

So do not feel safe from the sleep of death,

And be wary of the sharpness of its claws.

And be cautious to the extent of its claws.

فإِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ ما أَسأَرَت

فإِنَّ المَنِيَّةَ ما أَسأَرَت

مِنَ القَومِ عادَت لإِسآرِها

مِنَ القَومِ عادَت لإِسآرِها

For death, when it has spared some

For death has not taken captive,

Of a people, returns for those it left behind.

Of people, except to take them captive again.