قَد نِلتَ بِالرَأيِ وَالتَميِيزِ مَنزِلَةً

قَد نِلتَ بِالرَأيِ وَالتَميِيزِ مَنزِلَةً

ما نالَها أَخَواكَ البَحرُ وَالمَطَرُ

ما نالَها أَخَواكَ البَحرُ وَالمَطَرُ

You have indeed attained through judgment and discernment a rank

You have attained through wisdom and discernment

That your two brothers, the sea and the rain, have not attained.

A rank not reached by your brethren, the sea and the rain,

وَبِالتَكَرُّمِ وَالأَفضالِ مَرتَبَةً

وَبِالتَكَرُّمِ وَالأَفضالِ مَرتَبَةً

لَم يُعطَها خادِماكَ السَيفُ وَالقَدَرُ

لَم يُعطَها خادِماكَ السَيفُ وَالقَدَرُ

And through generosity and bounty, a station

And through generosity and kindness, a station

That your two servants, the sword and Fate, were not granted.

Not granted by your servants, the sword and fate.

قالوا أَيُمطِرُ مِن مَحلٍ أَلَمَّ بِهِ

قالوا أَيُمطِرُ مِن مَحلٍ أَلَمَّ بِهِ

فَقُلتُ قَد تُمطِرُ الأَنهارُ وَالغَدرُ

فَقُلتُ قَد تُمطِرُ الأَنهارُ وَالغَدرُ

They asked, “Can he rain when drought has overtaken him?”

They said, "Can it rain from a place pained by it?"

So I said, “Rivers and pools may rain.”

I said, "Rivers and betrayal can cause rain."

مالٌ يُبَدِّدُهُ في جَمعِ مَكرُمَةٍ

مالٌ يُبَدِّدُهُ في جَمعِ مَكرُمَةٍ

فَالمَجدُ مُجتَمِعٌ وَالمالُ مُنتَشِرُ

فَالمَجدُ مُجتَمِعٌ وَالمالُ مُنتَشِرُ

Wealth he scatters to gather honor;

Wealth that is wasted gathering generous deeds,

Thus glory is gathered, while wealth is scattered.

So glory is united and wealth scattered.

مَناقِبٌ ما يَكادُ الدَهرُ يَهدِمُها

مَناقِبٌ ما يَكادُ الدَهرُ يَهدِمُها

كَأَنَّها أُصَلٌ لِلدَهرِ أَو بُكَرُ

كَأَنَّها أُصَلٌ لِلدَهرِ أَو بُكَرُ

Virtues that Time can scarcely destroy,

Virtues that time can barely ruin,

As though they were Time’s evenings or mornings.

As if they are the origin of time or everlasting.

فَاِبشِر فَإِنَّكَ رَأسٌ وَالعُلا جَسَدٌ

فَاِبشِر فَإِنَّكَ رَأسٌ وَالعُلا جَسَدٌ

وَالمَجدُ وَجهٌ وَأَنتَ السَمعُ وَالبَصَرُ

وَالمَجدُ وَجهٌ وَأَنتَ السَمعُ وَالبَصَرُ

So rejoice, for you are the head, and eminence the body;

So rejoice, for you are the head and glory is the body,

And glory is the face, and you its hearing and sight.

And glory is the face while you are hearing and sight.

لَولاكَ لَم تَكُ لِلأَيّامِ مَنقَبَةٌ

لَولاكَ لَم تَكُ لِلأَيّامِ مَنقَبَةٌ

تَسمو إِلَيها وَلا لِلدَهرِ مُفتَخَرُ

تَسمو إِلَيها وَلا لِلدَهرِ مُفتَخَرُ

Without you, the days would have no distinction

If not for you, days would have no pride

To which they might aspire, nor Time any source of pride.

To aspire to, nor time anything to boast.