في دَعة الله سرْ وعدْ في

في دَعة الله سرْ وعدْ في

بشارة تجتلي بشاره

بشارة تجتلي بشاره

Go in God's peace, and return amid

In God's tranquility lies a promise

glad tidings in which you behold Bishara.

Of glad tidings that will be revealed as joy

واحْيى كما شئت يا ابن يحيى

واحْيى كما شئت يا ابن يحيى

في رُتبِ البرّ والإشاره

في رُتبِ البرّ والإشاره

And live as you wish, O son of Yahya,

And live as you wish, O son of John

in ranks of goodness and distinction,

In the ranks of righteousness and insight

مكان عبد الرَّحيم قدماً

مكان عبد الرَّحيم قدماً

لا ترتضي النعت بالوزاره

لا ترتضي النعت بالوزاره

in Abd al-Rahim's former place;

Take the place of Abdul Rahim in leading

do not settle for the title of vizier.

You do not accept the description of ministry

لي قصة والسؤال سكني

لي قصة والسؤال سكني

بيتٍ ويحتاج للعبارَه

بيتٍ ويحتاج للعبارَه

I have a tale, and my request is to dwell in

I have a story and questioning is my residence

a house; this calls for an explanation.

A house and it requires expression

سكنتُ داراً لصاحبٍ لي

سكنتُ داراً لصاحبٍ لي

وقصده يستعير داره

وقصده يستعير داره

I lodged in a house belonging to a friend of mine,

I dwelt in a house belonging to a friend

and he intends to borrow his own house.

Whose intention was to borrow his house

ذو حجرٍ نسبةً وغيظاً

ذو حجرٍ نسبةً وغيظاً

أنا وقومي نخاف ناره

أنا وقومي نخاف ناره

A man of Hajar—stone—in lineage and wrath,

With lineage and wrath like stone

my people and I fear his fire.

My people and I fear his fire

فيا لها في الصفات ناراً

فيا لها في الصفات ناراً

وقودها الناس والحجارة

وقودها الناس والحجارة

Oh, what a fire it is in its qualities—

What a fire it is in attributes

its fuel is people and stones.

Its fuel is people and stones