أَدِمْ إدامَةَ حِصْنٍ أو خُذَنْ بيدي

أَدِمْ إدامَةَ حِصْنٍ أو خُذَنْ بيدي

حَرْباً ضَروساً تَشُبُّ الجَزْلَ والضّرَمَا

حَرْباً ضَروساً تَشُبُّ الجَزْلَ والضّرَمَا

Persevere as Ḥiṣn did, or take me by the hand

Either persist in besieging a fortress or take my hand

in a grinding war that sets thick logs and tinder ablaze,

In a fierce battle where valor and glory abound

في جارِكُمْ وابنكُمْ إذْ كانَ مَقْتَلُهُ

في جارِكُمْ وابنكُمْ إذْ كانَ مَقْتَلُهُ

شَنْعاءَ شَيّبتِ الأصداغَ واللِّمَمَا

شَنْعاءَ شَيّبتِ الأصداغَ واللِّمَمَا

for your neighbor and your son, since his killing was

For your neighbor and son, if his death

a hideous outrage that turned temples and tresses gray.

Was shameful, turned temples gray and white

أَعْيَا المَسُودُ بها والسّيّدون فَلَمْ

أَعْيَا المَسُودُ بها والسّيّدون فَلَمْ

يوجَدْ لها غَيْرُنا مَوْلىً ولا حَكَمَا

يوجَدْ لها غَيْرُنا مَوْلىً ولا حَكَمَا

The subject and the lords were baffled by it, so no

The black slaves and masters are exhausted by it, but could not

protector or arbiter other than us was found for it.

Find any protector or judge other than us