لَئِنeven if لَمnot يَمضِcut through ليfor me حَدٌّan edge فَكَمthen how often قَدindeed
لَئِن لَم يَمضِ لي حَدٌّ فَكَم قَد
فَلَلتُI blunted الحَدَّthe edge فيin الحَربِwar العَوانِoft-renewed
فَلَلتُ الحَدَّ في الحَربِ العَوانِ
Even if my blade has not cut, how often have I
If my doom is not yet cast, how oft have I
blunted the edge in oft-renewed war!
Faced doom and death in days and conflicts gone.
وَإِنّيand indeed I لاnot أَزالُI cease to be أَخاa brother of حُروبٍwars
وَإِنّي لا أَزالُ أَخا حُروبٍ
إِذاif لَمnot أَجنِI do harm كُنتُI was مِجَنَّa shield for جانِone who does harm
إِذا لَم أَجنِ كُنتُ مِجَنَّ جانِ
And I remain a brother of wars:
Still am I brother unto any fray;
If I do no harm, I am a shield for one who does.
If slain I am not, yet am I one undone.