عليك دلائل الأفضال لاحت

وإنك أنت مخدوم السعادة

Upon you the signs of beneficence have shone.

And you, indeed, are served by good fortune.

ثَوَيتَ على سرير المجد مما

صنعت من المزايا المُستجادة

You have settled upon glory’s throne through

the admirable accomplishments you have achieved.

مَنَنتَ على الورى ببناء سورٍ

فكم للّه فيه من إفادة

You have favored humankind by building a wall.

And how much benefit it holds—God be praised!

إذا ما كنت أنت السور فينا

فحسبُ فما صَنَعتَ لنا زيادة

If you yourself are the wall among us,

that suffices; what you have built is extra for us.

نَوَدُّ نَبتُّ مدحك في قريضِ

ولكن ما جرى لي فيه عادة

We wish to declare your praise in verse,

but it has not been my custom.