قدمتَ قدوم البدر بيتَ سُعُودِهِ

قدمتَ قدوم البدر بيتَ سُعُودِهِ

وأمرُك عالٍ صاعدٌ كصعودِهِ

وأمرُك عالٍ صاعدٌ كصعودِهِ

You arrived as the full moon enters its house of good fortune,

You came like the full moon rising to its zenith

And your standing is lofty, rising as it rises.

And your status is high, ever ascending like it

لبستَ سناه واعتليتَ اعتلاءه

لبستَ سناه واعتليتَ اعتلاءه

ونأمل أن تحظى بمثل خلودِهِ

ونأمل أن تحظى بمثل خلودِهِ

You donned its radiance and ascended as it ascended,

You donned its brightness and rose to its height

And we hope you enjoy an immortality like its own.

And we hope you enjoy its eternal permanence

وأقبَلت بحراً زاخراً في مُدُوده

وأقبَلت بحراً زاخراً في مُدُوده

على متنِ بحرٍ زاخرٍ في مدودِهِ

على متنِ بحرٍ زاخرٍ في مدودِهِ

You came—a sea swelling in its tides—

You came like a bountiful sea in its surging waves

Upon the back of a sea swelling in its tides.

Atop an abundant sea surging in its tides

وأُقسمُ بالمُعْلِيكَ قدراً ورتبةً

وأُقسمُ بالمُعْلِيكَ قدراً ورتبةً

لجَودُكَ بالمعروف أضعافُ جودِهِ

لجَودُكَ بالمعروف أضعافُ جودِهِ

I swear by Him who exalts your worth and rank:

I swear by the One who raised you in status and rank

Your generosity in kindness is many times its generosity.

Your generosity with goodness is manifold that of others

وما رفدُك المحمودُ من رفْد رافدٍ

وما رفدُك المحمودُ من رفْد رافدٍ

تُعَدُّ عيوبٌ جمَّةٌ في رفُودِهِ

تُعَدُّ عيوبٌ جمَّةٌ في رفُودِهِ

Your praiseworthy bounty is not that of a giver

The commendable support you provide is not from any supporter

In whose gifts many faults are counted.

Whose flaws altogether would taint its purity

تذوبُ رفودُ البحر بعد جمودها

تذوبُ رفودُ البحر بعد جمودها

ومالَكَ رفدٌ ذاب بعد جمودِهِ

ومالَكَ رفدٌ ذاب بعد جمودِهِ

The sea's gifts melt after hardening,

The sea’s bounties melt after freezing

Yet no gift of yours has melted after hardening.

While yours is a bounty melted after its solidity

وأنت متى جُزْتَ الحدود نفعتنا

وأنت متى جُزْتَ الحدود نفعتنا

وكم ضرَّ بحرٌ جاز أدنى حُدودِهِ

وكم ضرَّ بحرٌ جاز أدنى حُدودِهِ

Whenever you exceed the bounds, you benefit us;

And when you surpass limits, you bring us benefit

How often a sea has harmed by crossing its nearest bounds!

While the sea, having crossed its lowest depths, brings harm

وما زلت في كل الأمور تبزُّهُ

وما زلت في كل الأمور تبزُّهُ

بما يعجز الحُسَّابَ ضبطُ عقودِهِ

بما يعجز الحُسَّابَ ضبطُ عقودِهِ

You have always surpassed it in every matter,

You have never ceased in all matters to demonstrate

By amounts whose tallies defeat the reckoners.

What the wise cannot reckon, nor bounds comprehend

وقد عرفَ البحرُ الذي أنا عارفٌ

وقد عرفَ البحرُ الذي أنا عارفٌ

فطأطأ من طغْيانه ومُرُوده

فطأطأ من طغْيانه ومُرُوده

Indeed, the sea has recognized what I know,

The sea I know well recognized you

So it bowed, abating its excess and rebellion.

And bowed its towering waves and surge

وأضحى ذَلولاً ظهرُه إذ ركبته

وأضحى ذَلولاً ظهرُه إذ ركبته

لمجدٍ يبيد الدهْرُ قبل بُيُودِهِ

لمجدٍ يبيد الدهْرُ قبل بُيُودِهِ

Its back became docile when you rode upon it,

Its back has become submissive as you rode it

For a glory before whose end time itself will perish.

For glory that will destroy time before its ruin

ومن أجلك استكسى الشَّمَال برودَهُ

ومن أجلك استكسى الشَّمَال برودَهُ

وأقبل مزفُوفاً بها في بُرُودِهِ

وأقبل مزفُوفاً بها في بُرُودِهِ

For your sake it sought its robes from the north wind,

For you the north has donned its coolness

And came escorted by it, clad in its robes.

Approaching softly cloaked in its chill

ولولاك لاستكسى الجنوبَ سلاحَهُ

ولولاك لاستكسى الجنوبَ سلاحَهُ

فكان ورودُ الحرب دون ورودِهِ

فكان ورودُ الحرب دون ورودِهِ

But for you, it would have taken its armor from the south wind,

Had it not been for you, the south would have readied its weapons

And facing war would have been easier than facing it.

And the blossoms of war would have bloomed before their season

ولكن رأى سعدَ الكواكب فوقه

ولكن رأى سعدَ الكواكب فوقه

فسار وديعاً سيرُه كركُودِهِ

فسار وديعاً سيرُه كركُودِهِ

But it saw the auspicious one among the stars above it,

But it saw your stars shining above it

So it moved gently, its motion like its stillness.

So it went gently, its pace like its calm

فهنَّأك اللّه السلامةَ قادماً

فهنَّأك اللّه السلامةَ قادماً

برغم مُعادِي حَظِّكم وحَسُودِهِ

برغم مُعادِي حَظِّكم وحَسُودِهِ

May God gladden you with safety as you arrive,

May God grant you wellness upon your arrival

To the chagrin of whoever opposes and envies your fortune.

Despite the resentment of your envious enemies

فهنَّأك اللّه الكرامةَ خافضاً

فهنَّأك اللّه الكرامةَ خافضاً

وفي كلِّ حالٍ يا ابن مجدٍ وعودِهِ

وفي كلِّ حالٍ يا ابن مجدٍ وعودِهِ

May God gladden you with honor while you live at ease,

May God honor you by vanquishing

And in every state, O son of glory and its ancestral stock.

And in every state, O son of glory and his promise

وبعد فإنِّي المرءُ أجديتُ قاعداً

وبعد فإنِّي المرءُ أجديتُ قاعداً

ولم يجدِ قبلي قاعدٌ بقعودِهِ

ولم يجدِ قبلي قاعدٌ بقعودِهِ

And now: I am the man rewarded while sitting still,

As for me, though able, I remained seated

Though no sitter before me profited by sitting.

None before me remained seated in their place

وما ذاك إلا أنَّ أرْوَعَ ما جداً

وما ذاك إلا أنَّ أرْوَعَ ما جداً

وَفَى لي بعهدٍ من كريم عهودِهِ

وَفَى لي بعهدٍ من كريم عهودِهِ

That is only because an awe-inspiring noble man

That is only because the best support altogether

Fulfilled for me a pledge among his noble pledges.

Sufficed me from one noble to his pact

على أنَّ عَتْبا منه حَوَّلَ حالتي

على أنَّ عَتْبا منه حَوَّلَ حالتي

لبعض عُنُودي لا لبعض عُنُودِهِ

لبعض عُنُودي لا لبعض عُنُودِهِ

Though some displeasure from him changed my condition,

Though his reproach changed my state

For some obstinacy of mine, not for any of his.

For some of my obstinacy, not his own

وكان مَحَلِّي في النجود بفضله

وكان مَحَلِّي في النجود بفضله

فبدَّلني أغوارَهُ من نجودِهِ

فبدَّلني أغوارَهُ من نجودِهِ

By his favor my place had been in the highlands;

My place in generosity was by his grace

Then he gave me his lowlands in place of his highlands.

So he changed me from its depths to its summit

فهل قائل عني له متوسّلٌ

فهل قائل عني له متوسّلٌ

بلين سجاياه ومجد جُدُودِهِ

بلين سجاياه ومجد جُدُودِهِ

Will anyone speak on my behalf to him, appealing

Is there no speaker to him, kind and humble

To his gentle character and the glory of his forefathers?

With gentle temperament and majestic resolve

لعبدك حقٌّ بالتَّحَرُّم واجبٌ

لعبدك حقٌّ بالتَّحَرُّم واجبٌ

أبى لك طيبُ الخِيم لؤمَ جحودِهِ

أبى لك طيبُ الخِيم لؤمَ جحودِهِ

Your servant has a rightful claim through seeking your protection;

Your servant has the right to self-respect, it being necessary

Your good nature forbids you basely to deny it.

That the best tents refused the blemish of ingratitude

وفي جيده طوقٌ لنعماك لازِبٌ

وفي جيده طوقٌ لنعماك لازِبٌ

أبى ربُّه إلا قيامَ شهودِهِ

أبى ربُّه إلا قيامَ شهودِهِ

Around his neck is an enduring collar of your favor;

On his neck is a collar of your blessings, adhered

Its lord insists that its witnesses stand forth.

His Lord refused but to stand by his testimony

وأنت الذي يأبى انحلال عقوده

وأنت الذي يأبى انحلال عقوده

وإن كان لا يأبى انحلال حُقُودِهِ

وإن كان لا يأبى انحلال حُقُودِهِ

You are the one who will not let his bonds unravel,

You who refuses the dissolution of his pacts

Though he does not refuse to let his grudges dissolve.

Although he does not refuse the untying of his braids

فَجَدِّدْ له نعمى بعفوٍ ونائلٍ

فَجَدِّدْ له نعمى بعفوٍ ونائلٍ

فما زلتَ أعْنَى سَيِّدٍ بمسودِهِ

فما زلتَ أعْنَى سَيِّدٍ بمسودِهِ

So renew your favor to him with pardon and largesse;

So renew your blessings upon him with pardon and hopes fulfilled

You have always been the master most mindful of his dependent.

For you have never ceased to favor a master through his aims

وبشرى من البِشْرِ الجميل فلم يزل

وبشرى من البِشْرِ الجميل فلم يزل

يبشّر بالصبْح انبلاجُ عمودِهِ

يبشّر بالصبْح انبلاجُ عمودِهِ

And glad tidings from gracious cheer; for always

And glad tidings of beautiful heralding, it has not stopped

The gleam of its pillar has heralded the dawn.

Heralding the dawn with the rising of its pillars

خَصصتُ وأَثنى بالعموم ولم أكن

خَصصتُ وأَثنى بالعموم ولم أكن

كصاحب نومٍ هبَّ بعد هجودِهِ

كصاحب نومٍ هبَّ بعد هجودِهِ

I singled one out, while he praised generally; I was not

I singled out and praised inclusively, I was not

Like a sleeper who sprang up after slumber.

Like a sleeping companion roused after slumber

ولكنَّني بدَّأتُ أبلَجَ لم أزل

ولكنَّني بدَّأتُ أبلَجَ لم أزل

أقاتل أسباب الردى بجنودِهِ

أقاتل أسباب الردى بجنودِهِ

Rather, I put first a radiant man; I have always

Rather I began to shine and have not ceased

Battled the causes of ruin with his troops.

Combatting the causes of evil with its soldiers

بقيتم بني وهبٍ برغم عدوكم

بقيتم بني وهبٍ برغم عدوكم

وشدة بلواه وطول سهودِهِ

وشدة بلواه وطول سهودِهِ

May you live on, sons of Wahb, to your enemy's chagrin,

You remained, O Banu Wahb, despite your enemy

And to his bitter affliction and long sleeplessness.

And the intensity of his tribulation and prostration's length

ولا برحت بيضُ الأيادي عليكُمُ

ولا برحت بيضُ الأيادي عليكُمُ

ومنكمْ مدى بيض الزمان وسودِهِ

ومنكمْ مدى بيض الزمان وسودِهِ

May the white hands of kindness never cease to reach you,

The white of hands did not leave you

And extend from you, through time's white days and black.

And the days of time have extended from you white and black

دُفِعْتُمْ إلى مُلكٍ كثيرٍ سدُودُه

دُفِعْتُمْ إلى مُلكٍ كثيرٍ سدُودُه

فعادت فُتوح الملك ضِعْفَيْ سُدودِهِ

فعادت فُتوح الملك ضِعْفَيْ سُدودِهِ

You were thrust into a realm whose barriers were many;

You were pushed to abundant empire, firm its pillars

Then the realm's victories numbered twice its barriers.

So the openings of the kingdom doubled its pillars

بكيْدٍ لكم قد زايلته غُمُوده

بكيْدٍ لكم قد زايلته غُمُوده

يؤيِّدُهُ كيْدٌ لكم في غمودِهِ

يؤيِّدُهُ كيْدٌ لكم في غمودِهِ

Through a stratagem of yours whose sheaths had fallen away,

With a plot against you I have made its gloom depart

Supported by a stratagem of yours still in its sheaths.

Supporting you is a plot against them in their gloom

وألفيتُمُ المرْعى كثيراً أُسُودُهُ

وألفيتُمُ المرْعى كثيراً أُسُودُهُ

فأَنصفتُمُ خِرْفانه من أسودِهِ

فأَنصفتُمُ خِرْفانه من أسودِهِ

You found the pasture full of lions,

You found the pasture greatly jet-black

So you secured justice for its lambs against its lions.

So you exemplified amongst its sheep the blackest

ولم يركم أمرٌ طلبتُمْ صلاحه

ولم يركم أمرٌ طلبتُمْ صلاحه

تَكأَّدَكم ما دونه من كَئُودِهِ

تَكأَّدَكم ما دونه من كَئُودِهِ

No affair whose reform you sought ever found you

No matter you sought to set right but burdened you

Daunted by the steep obstacles that lay before it.

Beyond it of worries grasp

فأعرض عنّا كلُّ شرٍ بوجهه

فأعرض عنّا كلُّ شرٍ بوجهه

وأقبل وجه الخير بعد صدودِهِ

وأقبل وجه الخير بعد صدودِهِ

So every evil turned its face away from us,

So turn from us every evil with its face

And the face of good approached after turning away.

And make the aspect of good approach after its avoidance

فزاد مُصَلِّينا بكم في رُكُوعه

فزاد مُصَلِّينا بكم في رُكُوعه

زاد مصلينا بكم في سجودِهِ

زاد مصلينا بكم في سجودِهِ

So, thanks to you, our worshipper increased his bowing;

Increase those who bow to you in its bowing

Thanks to you, our worshipper increased his prostration.

Increase those who prostrate to you in its prostration

ألا لا عدمنا طِبَّكُمْ وشفاءه

ألا لا عدمنا طِبَّكُمْ وشفاءه

فقد بردت أحشاؤنا بِبَرُودِهِ

فقد بردت أحشاؤنا بِبَرُودِهِ

Ah, may we never lack your medicine and its healing,

May we never be devoid of your greeting and its healing

For our innards have cooled with its cooling remedy.

For it has cooled our entrails with its chill

ولا عدم العرفُ الذي تصنعونه

ولا عدم العرفُ الذي تصنعونه

مِداداً نُفُودُ البحر قبل نفودِهِ

مِداداً نُفُودُ البحر قبل نفودِهِ

May the kindness you perform never lack

Nor devoid of the custom you exemplify

A supply of ink that will outlast the sea itself.

An inkwell, the sea's springs before their springing

إليكُمْ رأى الراجي مَشَدَّ قُتُودِهِ

إليكُمْ رأى الراجي مَشَدَّ قُتُودِهِ

وفيكم رأى الساري محطَّ قُتُودِهِ

وفيكم رأى الساري محطَّ قُتُودِهِ

The hopeful man saw you as the goal for strapping his saddle-frames;

To you the hopeful saw the tightening of his bonds

With you the night-traveler saw where to set his saddle-frames down.

And in you the protected saw the rest of his bonds

أتاكم ولم يشفعْ فلقَّاه طَوْلُكُمْ

أتاكم ولم يشفعْ فلقَّاه طَوْلُكُمْ

نسيئاتِ ما رَجَّاه قبل نُقُودِهِ

نسيئاتِ ما رَجَّاه قبل نُقُودِهِ

He came to you without seeking intercession; your generosity met him

He came to you without mediation so your duration accepted him

With the deferred gifts he hoped for, before the ready cash.

Slow fulfillments of what he hoped before its time

وقد كان تأميلُ النفوس مُقَيَّداً

وقد كان تأميلُ النفوس مُقَيَّداً

فأطلقتُمُ تأميلَها من قيودِهِ

فأطلقتُمُ تأميلَها من قيودِهِ

The souls' hope had been fettered,

The imagining of souls had been constrained

So you freed their hope from its chains.

But you released their imagining from their bonds