مَرتَعُ ذَودي مِن البِلادِ إِذا

مَرتَعُ ذَودي مِن البِلادِ إِذا

ما شاعَ جَدبُ البِلادِ أَكلؤُها

ما شاعَ جَدبُ البِلادِ أَكلؤُها

My small camel herd’s pasture among the lands, when

My pasture for the guest, when the land is stricken

drought spreads through the lands, is the richest of them in herbage.

With drought, is the amplest and warmest of all;

يُكنُّ ضَيفي إِذا تأوَّبني

يُكنُّ ضَيفي إِذا تأوَّبني

أَوسَعُ أَبياتِنا وَأَدفَؤُها

أَوسَعُ أَبياتِنا وَأَدفَؤُها

My guest, when he comes to me at night, is sheltered by

And when want visits my dwelling, the guest

the roomiest of our houses, and the warmest.

Finds the fullest supply in my drinking-bowl.

عِندي لهَذا الزَمانِ آنيَةٌ

عِندي لهَذا الزَمانِ آنيَةٌ

أملؤُها مَرَّةً وَأكفَؤُها

أملؤُها مَرَّةً وَأكفَؤُها

I have vessels for these times;

For these troublous times I have vessels of old

I fill them once, and tip them out.

Now empty, now brimming, as Fortunes ordain.

خَيرُ الرِجالِ المرهَّقونَ كَما

خَيرُ الرِجالِ المرهَّقونَ كَما

خَيرُ تلاعِ البِلادِ أَوطؤُها

خَيرُ تلاعِ البِلادِ أَوطؤُها

The best of men are those beset by guests, just as

The best of all men are the sorely-tried,

the best of the land’s valleys are the easiest to tread.

As the best of all lands are the most desolate.