إذا لم تلد أمٌّ كآل مُعَيبد

إذا لم تلد أمٌّ كآل مُعَيبد

فتلك على كثر السنين عقيم

فتلك على كثر السنين عقيم

If a mother has not borne the likes of the clan of Muʿaybid,

If a mother does not give birth to faultless ones,

then she is barren, however many the years.

Then she is barren, though numerous her years.

ومن لم يكن منهم أبوه فإنَّه

ومن لم يكن منهم أبوه فإنَّه

وإن كان حيُّ الوالدين يَتيم

وإن كان حيُّ الوالدين يَتيم

And he whose father is not one of them is indeed,

And he whose father is not one of them,

even if both his parents are alive, an orphan.

Though living, by both parents left an orphan.

أناس إذا مَا حاربوا فضراغم

أناس إذا مَا حاربوا فضراغم

أسودٌ ومهما استُمْطِروا فغيوم

أسودٌ ومهما استُمْطِروا فغيوم

A people who, when they wage war, are fierce lions—

A folk, who when they battle leave their mark;

lions; and whenever asked for rain, they are clouds.

Black, and however much rained on, clouds.