وَوَفاكَ وفد الشُّكرِ من كُلَّ وَجهَةٍ

وَوَفاكَ وفد الشُّكرِ من كُلَّ وَجهَةٍ

ثناءٌ يُسَدَّى أو مَديحٌ يُنظَّمُ

ثناءٌ يُسَدَّى أو مَديحٌ يُنظَّمُ

And gratitude's delegation has come to you from every quarter:

Gratitude delegations come from all directions

praise bestowed, or panegyric composed in verse.

Songs of praise to be sung or poems to be composed

يزفُّ إلى الأسماع كلَّ خريدةٍ

يزفُّ إلى الأسماع كلَّ خريدةٍ

تكادُ إذا ما أُنشدَت تتبَسَّمُ

تكادُ إذا ما أُنشدَت تتبَسَّمُ

It ushers each maiden of verse to the ears,

Brought to all ears like a precious jewel

who almost smiles whenever she is recited.

That when recited, seems to smile

أطافت بها الأفكارُ حتى تركنها

أطافت بها الأفكارُ حتى تركنها

يُقَالَ أأبياتٌ تَرَاها أو أنُجمُ

يُقَالَ أأبياتٌ تَرَاها أو أنُجمُ

Thoughts circled her until they left her such that

Ideas turned around it until they left it

one asks: 'Are these verses you see, or stars?'

Are they verses you see or stars you gaze at

وتشرفُ أحسابُ الكلامِ وتكرَمُ

وتشرفُ أحسابُ الكلامِ وتكرَمُ

And speech's pedigrees grow noble and honored.

And the horizons of words are honored and generous

It is enough for time to know

كفى الدهر علماً أن

كفى الدهر علماً أن

شهادة أهل الدَّهرِ أنِّك منهُمُ

شهادة أهل الدَّهرِ أنِّك منهُمُ

It is enough for Time to know that

That the people of time testify you are one of them

the people of the age testify that you are one of them.

We boast to the orbits glory and rank

نُباهي بك اللأفلاكَ مجداً ورتبةً

نُباهي بك اللأفلاكَ مجداً ورتبةً

فهنَّ بُروجٌ والمكارمُ أنجمُ

فهنَّ بُروجٌ والمكارمُ أنجمُ

Through you we rival the celestial spheres in glory and rank;

For they are zodiac signs and virtues are stars

for they are celestial mansions, and noble deeds are stars.

I see the sun has scattered light as if

أرى الشمسَ قد ذرَّت ضياءً كأَنَّما

أرى الشمسَ قد ذرَّت ضياءً كأَنَّما

يَلوحُ عليها باسمك الفَردِ مَيسَمُ

يَلوحُ عليها باسمك الفَردِ مَيسَمُ

I see the sun has shed its radiance, as though

Your unique name is etched upon it

a brand bearing your peerless name gleams upon it.

In it, creation and morals were perfected

تكاَملَ فيه الخلقُ والخُلقُ وانتمى

تكاَملَ فيه الخلقُ والخُلقُ وانتمى

به الملكُ والبيتُ الأصيل المقدَّمُ

به الملكُ والبيتُ الأصيل المقدَّمُ

In him, form and character reached perfection; and exalted

And the kingdom and the most noble house took pride

through him were kingship and the noble, preeminent house.

The extent of my gratitude is to task my mind

وغايةُ شكري أن أكلِّفَ خاطري

وغايةُ شكري أن أكلِّفَ خاطري

مُحَبَّرةً لا تُستطالُ فُتسأمُ

مُحَبَّرةً لا تُستطالُ فُتسأمُ

And the utmost of my thanks is to task my imagination

As a scribe that does not bore or tire

with a finely wrought poem, not so long as to weary.

When recited no nobleman’s limb remains

إذا أُنشِدتَ لم يبقَ عضوٌ لفاضلٍ

إذا أُنشِدتَ لم يبقَ عضوٌ لفاضلٍ

من الناسِ إلا وَدَّ لو أَنَّه فَمُ

من الناسِ إلا وَدَّ لو أَنَّه فَمُ

When it is recited to you, no limb of any worthy person remains

Among the people except wishing it were their mouth

among mankind that does not wish it were a mouth.