أَبلِغ أَبا هُرمُزٍ عَنّي مُغَلغَلَةً

أَبلِغ أَبا هُرمُزٍ عَنّي مُغَلغَلَةً

وَاِبنَي حُدَيَّةَ صُعروراً وَفِرناسِ

وَاِبنَي حُدَيَّةَ صُعروراً وَفِرناسِ

Convey to Abu Hurmuz, from me, a far-traveling message,

Tell Abu Hurmuz from me, bound in chains,

and to Hudayya’s two sons, Suʿrur and Firnas.

And his sons Hudayya full of terror and alarm.

ما كُنتَ أَوَّلَ ضاغٍ صَكَّهُ حَجَرٌ

ما كُنتَ أَوَّلَ ضاغٍ صَكَّهُ حَجَرٌ

أَلوَت بِهِ مَنجَنيقٌ ذاتُ أَمراسِ

أَلوَت بِهِ مَنجَنيقٌ ذاتُ أَمراسِ

You were not the first yelper struck by a stone

You were not the first whose stone house was demolished

hurled by a catapult fitted with ropes.

By a catapult with hooks tearing down your abode.

أَبِعتَ بَيتَكَ إِذ عَضَّتكَ مُجحِفَةٌ

أَبِعتَ بَيتَكَ إِذ عَضَّتكَ مُجحِفَةٌ

مِنَ السِنينَ عَوانٌ ذاتُ أَضراسِ

مِنَ السِنينَ عَوانٌ ذاتُ أَضراسِ

Did you sell your house when a ruinous year bit you—

You left your home when voracious fate assailed you,

a seasoned one among the years, armed with molars?

Ravenous years with grinding teeth.