إذا سلت صوارمها الغيارى

وهزت حولنا الأسل الحرارى

When the zealous unsheathed their keen swords,

And the ardent brandished spears around us,

وأقبلت الصوافن كالجواري

تخوض النقع تحسبه بحارا

And the poised steeds advanced like ships,

Plunging through the dust, mistaking it for seas,

وأومض بارق البيض المواضي

فقنَّع فحمة الليل احمرارا

And the lightning of bright, keen swords flashed,

Veiling the coal-black night in crimson,

علونا الدارعين بباتكاتٍ

تمج نصولها شرراً ونارا

We struck the armored men with cleaving swords,

Whose blades spewed sparks and fire.

وعدنا والرماح تميل تيهاً

كأن حديدها شرب العقارا

And we returned, the spears swaying with pride,

As though their iron had drunk wine.

فنحن الآمنون بكل فجٍّ

يخاف النازلون به البوارا

Thus we are safe in every mountain pass

Where those who camp fear destruction.

ونحن الفاتكون بكل قرمٍ

تكاد تدق هامته الشفارا

And we strike down every champion

Whose skull almost shatters the blades.

ونحن الرافقون بكل جارٍ

ونحن الواهبون له الجوارا

And we are gentle with every neighbor,

And we grant him protection.

أنضرب رأس بنت البيت سرّاً

ورأس القرم نضربه جهارا

Would we strike the head of the daughter of the house in secret,

While striking the champion's head openly,

ونفتك بالنيام ولا نحاشى

كما زعمت رعاع الشام عارا

And slaughter sleepers, sparing no one,

As the rabble of al-Sham shamefully alleged?

سيدرك رب جلق من تعدى

ولو صارت له الزرقاء دارا

The lord of Jilliq will catch whoever transgresses,

Even if the blue sky becomes his home.

ويفتك بالظلوم ولو تصدى

له كسرى ودافع عنه دارا

And he will slay the oppressor, even if confronted

By Kisra, with Dara defending the oppressor.

لعدلك يا نديم الملك نشكو

فعدلك ناصرٌ لمن استجارا

To your justice, O companion of the king, we appeal,

For your justice aids whoever seeks protection.

رمينا بالخيانة من لئامٍ

أصاروها لأنفسهم شعارا

We were accused of treachery by vile men

Who made it their own emblem.

نعاج لا قرون لهن لكن

نهار السلم ينطحن الحجارا

Ewes without horns, yet

In the daylight of peace, they butt the stones.

ستعرفهم وتعرف يا ملاذ ال

غيارى أينا الأنك الممارى

You will know them and know, O refuge of the

zealous, which of us is the foolish disputant.

فيهلك خائنٌ ويتوب زانٍ

ويأمن خائف ترك الديارا

Then a traitor will perish and a fornicator repent,

And a fearful man who left his home will be safe.

بقيت لنا حمىً ولهم حماماً

وعزّاً للبرية وافتخارا

May you remain a sanctuary for us and death for them,

And glory and pride to all creation.