تفاءلتُ والفأْل لي مُعْجِبٌ

تفاءلتُ والفأْل لي مُعْجِبٌ

فقلتُ وما أنا بالعابثِ

فقلتُ وما أنا بالعابثِ

I took it as a good omen, and the omen delights me.

I was optimistic, and optimism pleases me,

So I said—and I am not speaking idly—

So I said, and I am no trifler,

أبو حسنٍ وأبو مثلهِ

أبو حسنٍ وأبو مثلهِ

كَنِيَّا أبي حسنٍ ثالثِ

كَنِيَّا أبي حسنٍ ثالثِ

Abu Hasan and another so named

Abu Hassan and the like of Abu Hassan,

share the byname of a third Abu Hasan.

Are but two Abu Hassans, and a third.

قضى اللَّهُ واللَّهِ لي بالغِنى

قضى اللَّهُ واللَّهِ لي بالغِنى

يمينَ امرئٍ غيرِ ما حانثِ

يمينَ امرئٍ غيرِ ما حانثِ

God has decreed wealth for me—by God,

God has decreed wealth for me,

the oath of a man who does not swear falsely.

By the oath of a man who never broke his word.

إذا ما هما اكتنفا حاجتي

إذا ما هما اكتنفا حاجتي

فما ضرَّها عُقَدُ النافثِ

فما ضرَّها عُقَدُ النافثِ

When the two of them encompass my need,

When both of them help me in my need,

then the spell-blower's knots do it no harm.

No bond can restrain what is already unbound.

ولاسيما والذي أرتجي

ولاسيما والذي أرتجي

أبو الصقر ما النُّجحُ بالرائِثِ

أبو الصقر ما النُّجحُ بالرائِثِ

And especially since the one I look to

Especially when Abu Al-Sakr is the one I hope for,

is Abu al-Saqr: success will not tarry.

For success is not for the feeble.

أبا الصقر لا زلتَ غَيْثاً لنا

أبا الصقر لا زلتَ غَيْثاً لنا

حِماماً علَى المارِق الناكثِ

حِماماً علَى المارِق الناكثِ

O Abu al-Saqr, may you ever be life-giving rain for us,

Abu Al-Sakr, you have always been a succor for us,

death upon the renegade oath-breaker.

A dove above the fleeing hawk.

حَبتْك الأوائلُ من وائلٍ

حَبتْك الأوائلُ من وائلٍ

بمجدٍ قديمٍ لهم ماكثِ

بمجدٍ قديمٍ لهم ماكثِ

The forebears from Wa'il endowed you

The ancestors loved you from Wail,

with their ancient, enduring glory.

With an ancient glory that remains with them.

وحَسْبُكَ من سلفٍ لامرِئٍ

وحَسْبُكَ من سلفٍ لامرِئٍ

وحسبهُمُ بكَ من وارثِ

وحسبهُمُ بكَ من وارثِ

They are forebears enough for a man like you,

Your lineage suffices you, unlike any other man,

and you are heir enough for them.

And their lineage suffices them through you as inheritor.

ورثتَهُمُ ثم أحيَيْتَهُمْ

ورثتَهُمُ ثم أحيَيْتَهُمْ

وكم خَلَفٍ وارثٍ باعثِ

وكم خَلَفٍ وارثٍ باعثِ

You became their heir, then brought them back to life;

You inherited them, then revived them,

and how many successors both inherit and revive?

And how many successors and revivers there are!

ليهنِئْهمُ سيدٌ أيِّدٌ

ليهنِئْهمُ سيدٌ أيِّدٌ

صحيحُ الرَّويَّة في الكارثِ

صحيحُ الرَّويَّة في الكارثِ

May a mighty lord bring them joy,

To bring them joy, a master supported,

sound in deliberation amid calamity.

Steady of step in calamity.

يُكنَّى أبا الصقر في رأيهِ

يُكنَّى أبا الصقر في رأيهِ

وفي البأسِ يُكنى أبا الحارثِ

وفي البأسِ يُكنى أبا الحارثِ

In his judgment he is called Abu al-Saqr,

Nicknamed Abu Al-Sakr in his opinion,

and in battle he is called Abu al-Harith.

And in valor nicknamed Abu Al-Harith.

نفَى العائثينَ سوى جُودِهِ

نفَى العائثينَ سوى جُودِهِ

وحسبُك في المال من عائثِ

وحسبُك في المال من عائثِ

He banished the ravagers, save his generosity;

He dismissed those who caused mischief but by his generosity,

and that is ravager enough of wealth.

And for you, your wealth suffices you from the needy.