ألا ذهب الغزو المقرب للغنى

ألا ذهب الغزو المقرب للغنى

ومات الندى والجود بعد المهلب

ومات الندى والجود بعد المهلب

Lo, the raiding that brings wealth within reach is gone,

Alas the imminent conquest for wealth is gone

And bounty and generosity died after al-Muhallab.

And generosity and benevolence died after decline

أقاما بمرو الروذ رهني ضريحه

أقاما بمرو الروذ رهني ضريحه

وقد غيبا عن كل شرق ومغرب

وقد غيبا عن كل شرق ومغرب

Both remained at Marw al-Rudh, captives of his tomb,

They both settled in Merv hostage to its tomb

And both were hidden from all the East and West.

Having vanished from every East and West

إذا قيل أي الناس أولى بنعمة

إذا قيل أي الناس أولى بنعمة

على الناس قلناه ولم نتهيب

على الناس قلناه ولم نتهيب

If asked, “Who among men is foremost in beneficence

When asked who is most deserving of people's bounty

Toward mankind?” we name him and do not hesitate.

We named him without hesitation or fear

أباح لنا سهل البلاد وحزنها

أباح لنا سهل البلاد وحزنها

بخيل كأرسال القطا المتسرب

بخيل كأرسال القطا المتسرب

He opened to us the land's plains and its rugged ground,

He made the lands and their sorrows accessible

With horses like flocks of sandgrouse streaming along.

With generosity like the pouring of cleft rain

يعرضها للطعن حتى كأنما

يعرضها للطعن حتى كأنما

يجللها بالأرجوان المخضب

يجللها بالأرجوان المخضب

He exposes them to spear-thrusts until it is as though

Exposing himself to blame as if

He cloaks them in dyed crimson.

Adorning himself in blood-red purple

تطيف به قحطان قد عصبت به

تطيف به قحطان قد عصبت به

وأحلافها من حي بكر وتغلب

وأحلافها من حي بكر وتغلب

Qahtan circles around him, having rallied to him,

Encircled by Qahtan bound to him

And its allies from the tribes of Bakr and Taghlib;

And his confederates from Bakr and Taghlib tribes

وحيا معد عوذ بلوائه

وحيا معد عوذ بلوائه

يفدونه بالنفس والأم والأب

يفدونه بالنفس والأم والأب

And Ma'add's two tribes, seeking refuge beneath his banner,

And the living Ma'ad took refuge in his banners

Ransom him with their lives, their mothers, and their fathers.

Ransoming him with their souls, mothers and fathers