أَلا فاِبكي أَعِينِيَ لا تَمَلِّي

أَلا فاِبكي أَعِينِيَ لا تَمَلِّي

فَلي بِمصابنا أَبَداً عَويلُ

فَلي بِمصابنا أَبَداً عَويلُ

Ah, then weep, my eyes; do not grow weary.

Oh weep my eyes, cease not your flowing tears

For our loss, mine is an unending wail.

For our affliction my cries shall ever last

فَلا سَلِمَت عَشيرتنا وَعادَت

فَلا سَلِمَت عَشيرتنا وَعادَت

إِذا صُرِعَ اِبنُ رُوحانَ النَّبِيلُ

إِذا صُرِعَ اِبنُ رُوحانَ النَّبِيلُ

So may our clan neither survive nor return,

Our clan can have no peace for many years

when the noble son of Ruhan has been struck down.

When noble Rouhain's valiant son is passed

إذا رُحتُم وخُلِّفتُم هُبِلتُم

إذا رُحتُم وخُلِّفتُم هُبِلتُم

لِغَرثانٍ فَلا راحَ القَبيلُ

لِغَرثانٍ فَلا راحَ القَبيلُ

When you departed and were left behind—may you be bereft!—

When you all left, you were confused and lost

for a hungry one, may the tribe never return!

Abandoning your kinsman with no thought

فَرِحتُم بِالغَنائِمِ حِينَ رُحتُم

فَرِحتُم بِالغَنائِمِ حِينَ رُحتُم

وَبانَ بِمَوتِهِ الغُنمُ الجَليلُ

وَبانَ بِمَوتِهِ الغُنمُ الجَليلُ

You rejoiced in the spoils when you returned,

Rejoicing in your plunder without cost

yet with his death the great gain vanished.

While by his death much glory was bought

تركتم ذا الحِفاظِ وذا السّرايا

تركتم ذا الحِفاظِ وذا السّرايا

وراءكم أَضَلَّكُم الدَّليلُ

وراءكم أَضَلَّكُم الدَّليلُ

You left the guardian of honor and leader of raiding bands

The guide you left, protector of your band

behind you—may your guide lead you astray!

You lost your course when you deserted him

فَقُل لِنُوَيرَةٍ وَكُلَيبَ مَهلاً

فَقُل لِنُوَيرَةٍ وَكُلَيبَ مَهلاً

أَقيما إِنَّ خِزيَكُما طَويلُ

أَقيما إِنَّ خِزيَكُما طَويلُ

So tell Nuwayra and Kulayb: not so fast!

Say to Nuwairah and Kulayb, stop your hand

Stay, both of you; indeed, your disgrace is long-lasting.

For lasting shame upon you both shall gleam