1. أَمَّا الرُّوَاءُ فَفِينَا حَدُّ تَرْئِيَةٍ

    مِثْلَ الجِبَالِ الَّتِي بالجِزْعِ مِنْ إِضَمِ

    As for appearance, ours is imposing to behold,

    Like the mountains at the valley bend of Iḍam.

  2. أَمَّا الإِفَادَةُ فَاسْتَوْلَتْ رَكَائِبُنَا

    عِنْدَ الجَبَابِيرِ بِالبَأْسَاءِ والنِّعَمِ

    As for gaining wealth, our riding camels have prevailed

    Before mighty rulers, through hardship and favors.

  3. أَمَّا الأَدَاةُ فَفِينَا ضُمَّرٌ صُنُعٌ

    جُرْدٌ عَوَاجِرُ بالأَلْبَادِ واللُّجُمِ

    As for equipment, we have lean, well-trained steeds,

    Sleek-coated and sturdy, with saddle-felts and bridles.

  4. ونَسْجُ دَاوُدَ مِنْ بِيضٍ مُضَاعَفَةٍ

    مِنْ عَهْدِ عَادٍ وبَعْد الحَيِّ مِنْ إِرَمِ

    And David’s weaving: bright, double-layered mail,

    From the age of ʿĀd, and after the tribe of Iram.

  5. يُصْبِحْنَ بالخَبْتِ يَجْتَبْنَ النِّعَافَ عَلَى

    أَصْلاَبِ هَادٍ مُعِيدٍ لاَبِسِ القَتَمِ

    At dawn on the low plain, they cross the foothills upon

    The backs of seasoned leaders, clothed in dust.

  6. لا تَحْلُبُ الحَرْبُ مِنِّي بَعْدَ عِينَتِهَا

    إِلاَّ عُلاَلَة سِيدٍ مَارِدٍ سَدِمِ

    War milks nothing from me after its prime yield,

    But a last draught from an untamable, grief-stricken wolf.

  7. لاَ حَرْبَ بالحَرْبِ يَشْفِيها الإله وَيَشْ

    فِيها شفاعَةُ بَيْنَ الإِلِّ والرَّحِمِ

    War is not healed by war; God heals it, and so does—

    —intercession between covenant and kinship.

  8. حَتَّى تَشُولَ لَقَاحاً بَعْدَ قَارِحِهَا

    تَحَرَّبُوها كَحَرْبِ الذِّئْبِ لِلْغَنَمِ

    Until she lifts her tail, pregnant after first conceiving,

    You ravage her as the wolf ravages sheep.

  9. لاَ أُلْفَيَنَّ وإِيَّاكُمْ كَعَارِمَةٍ

    إِلاَّ تَجِدْ عَارِماً في النَّاسِ تَعْتَرِمِ

    May neither I nor you be found like a troublemaking woman,

    Who, if she finds no troublemaker among people, makes trouble herself.