أحلى المديحِ مديح خلّ فاخر

أحلى المديحِ مديح خلّ فاخر

أقواله تنبي كدرّ باهر

أقواله تنبي كدرّ باهر

The sweetest praise is the praise of a distinguished friend.

The finest praise is praise of a dear friend

The sweetest praise is the commendation of a magnificent friend,

His words, like dazzling pearls, tell

Whose words hint at hidden wonders

His words prophesy their worth like dazzling pearls,

عمّا أجنّ من الوداد جنانه

عمّا أجنّ من الوداد جنانه

ألفاظه تترى كشهد قاطر

ألفاظه تترى كشهد قاطر

Of the affection his heart has concealed.

From the affection he has inspired

Revealing the affection that his heart has held concealed,

His words come in succession, like dripping honey.

His words seem like pouring honey

His phrases flowing in succession like dripping honeycomb.

تكسو الملاحةُ والطلاوة وجهها

تكسو الملاحةُ والطلاوة وجهها

فالودّ من أرجائها كالعاطر

فالودّ من أرجائها كالعاطر

Beauty and sweetness clothe their face;

Charm and eloquence grace his face

Grace and elegance clothe the countenance of his speech,

So affection from their every quarter is like perfume.

Affection emanates from him like perfume

So that love breathes from its borders like perfume.

يا صاح خاتمه الأفاضل كلهم

يا صاح خاتمه الأفاضل كلهم

من كل شهم كاتب أو شاعر

من كل شهم كاتب أو شاعر

O friend, all the eminent have vied with him,

O seal of the virtuous, foremost of all

O companion, he is the seal of all the virtuous,

Every gallant writer or poet.

Every brave author or poet

Distinguished among every gallant scribe or poet.

عندي لكم بين الضلوع مودةٌ

عندي لكم بين الضلوع مودةٌ

محفوظةٌ ومصونةٌ للغابر

محفوظةٌ ومصونةٌ للغابر

Within my ribs I hold affection for you,

For you I hold in my heart a love

I harbor for you, deep within my ribs, a fond affection,

Preserved and protected for days to come.

Preserved and protected through time

Preserved and guarded for all time to come.

كن كيف شئت فأنت أنت أمينها

كن كيف شئت فأنت أنت أمينها

ما بين بادي عربها والحاضر

ما بين بادي عربها والحاضر

Be however you wish, for you—you—are its trusted guardian,

However you are, you're still its keeper

Be however you wish, for you are truly its trustee,

Among its nomadic Arabs and the settled folk.

Amongst Arabs, past and present alike

Whether among the desert Bedouin or the city dweller.

ما الدر إلا ما أتانا منكم

ما الدر إلا ما أتانا منكم

أنا مخلص للود أول شاكر

أنا مخلص للود أول شاكر

The only pearls are those that have come to us from you.

Pearls come only from your bounty

Pearls are naught but what has reached us from you;

I am faithful to friendship, the first to give thanks.

I'm loyal in my love, and first in thanks

I am loyal to this bond, the first to give thanks.