مَلَلنا وَما مَلَّ العَدُوُّ المُغاضِبُ

مَلَلنا وَما مَلَّ العَدُوُّ المُغاضِبُ

وَلِنّا وَما لانَ الزَمانُ المُشاغِبُ

وَلِنّا وَما لانَ الزَمانُ المُشاغِبُ

We have grown weary, but the wrathful enemy has not.

We are weary, though the angry foe be not weary,

And we have yielded, but unruly time has not relented.

And though the time of trouble be not weary.

يُعاجِلُنا ما لا نُريدُ مِنَ الأَذى

يُعاجِلُنا ما لا نُريدُ مِنَ الأَذى

وَيُبطِئُ مِن آمالِنا ما نُراقِبُ

وَيُبطِئُ مِن آمالِنا ما نُراقِبُ

The harm we do not want hastens upon us,

It hurries us on to misery when we desire it not,

while the hopes we await are slow to come.

And from our hopes it lags when we observe it.

حَمَلنا قُلوباً يَعصِفُ الدَهرُ حَولَها

حَمَلنا قُلوباً يَعصِفُ الدَهرُ حَولَها

وَتَهفو بِها أَحداثُهُ وَالنَوائِبُ

وَتَهفو بِها أَحداثُهُ وَالنَوائِبُ

We have borne hearts around which time storms,

We bear hearts around which the days storm

and its events and calamities toss them about.

And at which events stab and catastrophes rage.

نُريدُ سَبيلَ الأَمنِ وَالأَرضُ كُلُّها

نُريدُ سَبيلَ الأَمنِ وَالأَرضُ كُلُّها

مَشارِقُها مَذعورَةٌ وَالمَغارِبُ

مَشارِقُها مَذعورَةٌ وَالمَغارِبُ

We seek the path of safety, while all the earth—

We desire the way to safety, yet the whole earth

its eastern lands and western lands—is terrified.

Is filled with fear in the east and the west.

تَثورُ شُعوبُ العالَمينَ وَيَنطَوي

تَثورُ شُعوبُ العالَمينَ وَيَنطَوي

عَلى الذُلِّ شَعبٌ في السَكينَةِ راغِبُ

عَلى الذُلِّ شَعبٌ في السَكينَةِ راغِبُ

The peoples of the world rise up, while a people folds

The peoples of the two worlds are in ferment,

itself into humiliation, longing for tranquility.

While a people in the midst of calmness wishes for submission.

رُمينا بِأَقوامٍ مِراضٍ قُلوبُهُم

رُمينا بِأَقوامٍ مِراضٍ قُلوبُهُم

يَسومُونَنا ما لا يُسامُ المُحارِبُ

يَسومُونَنا ما لا يُسامُ المُحارِبُ

We have been afflicted with people whose hearts are diseased;

We have been thrown among a people whose hearts' sickness

they inflict on us what is not inflicted on a combatant.

Inflicts upon us what a warrior's swords cannot inflict.

فَلا الدَمُ مَمنوعٌ وَلا العِرضُ سالِمٌ

فَلا الدَمُ مَمنوعٌ وَلا العِرضُ سالِمٌ

وَلا العَسفُ مَحظورٌ وَلا الرِفقُ واجِبُ

وَلا العَسفُ مَحظورٌ وَلا الرِفقُ واجِبُ

So neither blood is protected nor honor safe,

Neither blood nor honor is forbidden,

nor tyranny forbidden nor kindness required.

Neither violence prohibited nor kindness obligatory.

يُقادُ إِلى الهَيجاءِ مَن لا يُريدُها

يُقادُ إِلى الهَيجاءِ مَن لا يُريدُها

فَيَمشي إِلَيها وَهوَ طَيّانُ ساغِبُ

فَيَمشي إِلَيها وَهوَ طَيّانُ ساغِبُ

One who does not want battle is driven to it,

He who does not desire havoc is led toward it

and walks toward it, hollow-bellied and starving.

And goes reluctantly, though with a yearning soul.

أَطاعَ العِدى لا أَنَّهُ خانَ قَومَهُ

أَطاعَ العِدى لا أَنَّهُ خانَ قَومَهُ

وَلَكِنَّما ضاقَت عليه المذاهبُ

وَلَكِنَّما ضاقَت عليه المذاهبُ

He obeyed the foes, not because he betrayed his people,

He has obeyed the foe, not because he betrayed his people,

but only because his paths had narrowed around him.

Rather because party strife restricted him.

هُمو سَلَبوهُ المالَ وَالآلَ وَاِحتَوَوا

هُمو سَلَبوهُ المالَ وَالآلَ وَاِحتَوَوا

مِنَ الحَبِّ وَالأَنعامِ ما هُوَ كاسِبُ

مِنَ الحَبِّ وَالأَنعامِ ما هُوَ كاسِبُ

It was they who robbed him of wealth and family, and seized

They robbed him of wealth and family and took possession

whatever grain and livestock he earned.

Of the love and bounty that were his livelihood.

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَدري أَفي الأَرضِ مَذهَبٌ

فَأَصبَحَ لا يَدري أَفي الأَرضِ مَذهَبٌ

أَمِ اِنطَبَقَت أَطرافُها وَالمَناكِبُ

أَمِ اِنطَبَقَت أَطرافُها وَالمَناكِبُ

So he no longer knew: was there any path on earth,

So he knows not whether there is room for him in the land

or had its edges and shoulders closed together?

Or whether the horizons have closed in upon him.

تَطَوَّعَ يَلقى المَوتَ لا مِن شَجاعَةٍ

تَطَوَّعَ يَلقى المَوتَ لا مِن شَجاعَةٍ

وَلِكِنَّهُ مِن خيفَةِ المَوتِ هارِبُ

وَلِكِنَّهُ مِن خيفَةِ المَوتِ هارِبُ

He volunteered to meet death, not out of courage,

He volunteered to face death, not out of courage,

but he was fleeing out of fear of death.

But because he flees in fear from the fear of death.

رَماهُ مِنَ الجوعِ المُبَرِّحِ مِقنَبٌ

رَماهُ مِنَ الجوعِ المُبَرِّحِ مِقنَبٌ

تَدينُ لَهُ الهَيجا وَتَعنو المَقانِبُ

تَدينُ لَهُ الهَيجا وَتَعنو المَقانِبُ

A squadron of agonizing hunger struck him,

Hunger's violence drives him on though he be doubly armed;

to which battle submits and squadrons bow.

Spears push him from the rear, and likewise sharp swords.

إِذا كَرَّ لاقَتهُ الأَسِنَّةُ خُضَّعاً

إِذا كَرَّ لاقَتهُ الأَسِنَّةُ خُضَّعاً

وَجاءَتهُ في زِيِّ العِصِيِّ القَواضِبُ

وَجاءَتهُ في زِيِّ العِصِيِّ القَواضِبُ

When it charges, spearheads meet it bowed,

When he turns his back the tongues attack him,

and cleaving swords come to it in the guise of sticks.

And when he comes to them, the weapons come in war apparel.

أَسِفتُ لِشَعبٍ مُستَباحٍ وَأُمَّةٍ

أَسِفتُ لِشَعبٍ مُستَباحٍ وَأُمَّةٍ

أَحاطَ بِها جَيشٌ مِنَ الظُلمِ غالِبُ

أَحاطَ بِها جَيشٌ مِنَ الظُلمِ غالِبُ

I grieved for a people exposed to violation, and a nation

I pity a people made prey and a nation

encircled by an overpowering army of injustice.

Encircled by an army of oppression made victorious.

تُمارِسُ مِنهُ غارَةً بَعدَ غارَةٍ

تُمارِسُ مِنهُ غارَةً بَعدَ غارَةٍ

وَتَرقُبُ فيهِ ما تَجيءُ العَواقِبُ

وَتَرقُبُ فيهِ ما تَجيءُ العَواقِبُ

It endures raid after raid from it,

They make attack after attack upon it

and watches what consequences will come of it.

And spy out its vulnerable points for the final assault.

تَروحُ وَتَغدو وَالنُفوسُ نَوازِعٌ

تَروحُ وَتَغدو وَالنُفوسُ نَوازِعٌ

تُدافِعُها آمالها وَتُجاذِبُ

تُدافِعُها آمالها وَتُجاذِبُ

It goes forth evening and morning, while souls yearn,

By day it advances and attacks, while death's pangs

their hopes pushing and pulling them.

Drive it onward and calamities' chains pull it.

طَوَت حِجَجاً سوداً كَأَنَّ شُهورَها

طَوَت حِجَجاً سوداً كَأَنَّ شُهورَها

بَناتُ الدُجى أَهوالُها وَالغَياهِبُ

بَناتُ الدُجى أَهوالُها وَالغَياهِبُ

It has passed through black years, whose months seem

It has wrapped itself in black nights like months

daughters of darkness—its terrors and deep gloom.

Whose daughters are horrors ever lying in wait.

تَسيرُ بِطاءً وَالمَكارِهُ رُكَّضٌ

تَسيرُ بِطاءً وَالمَكارِهُ رُكَّضٌ

بِأَرجائِها وَالمُزعِجاتُ دوائِبُ

بِأَرجائِها وَالمُزعِجاتُ دوائِبُ

They pass slowly, while calamities gallop

It moves slowly though disasters run fleetly

through their reaches, and disturbances never cease.

At its sides, while sorrows press hard behind.

نَشُدُّ القُلوبَ الخافِقاتِ تَهُزُّها

نَشُدُّ القُلوبَ الخافِقاتِ تَهُزُّها

خُطوبُ اللَيالي وَالهُمومُ النَواصِبُ

خُطوبُ اللَيالي وَالهُمومُ النَواصِبُ

We brace our fluttering hearts, shaken

We appeal to hearts that quiver so that the nights' misfortunes

by the calamities of nights and exhausting cares.

And endless worries may shake them.

وَأَهلَكنا غَدرُ الوُلاةِ وَقَولُهُم

وَأَهلَكنا غَدرُ الوُلاةِ وَقَولُهُم

هَنيئاً لِشَعبٍ اَخطَأَتهُ المَعاطِبُ

هَنيئاً لِشَعبٍ اَخطَأَتهُ المَعاطِبُ

The treachery of rulers has ruined us, and their saying:

The guards' treason has destroyed us, and their cry:

“Happy the people whom disasters have missed!

"Congratulations to a people whose envoys have erred!"

أَرونا بِلاداً فاتَها ما أَصابَكُم

أَرونا بِلاداً فاتَها ما أَصابَكُم

وَتَمَّت لَها حاجاتُها وَالمَطالِبُ

وَتَمَّت لَها حاجاتُها وَالمَطالِبُ

Show us a land that missed what came your way,

They have shown us lands that have escaped the fate which has befallen you

and had its needs and demands fulfilled.

And ended happily with their wants fulfilled.

أُبيدَت شُعوبٌ جَدَّ في الحَربِ جِدُّها

أُبيدَت شُعوبٌ جَدَّ في الحَربِ جِدُّها

وَغودِرَ شَعبٌ في الكِنانَةِ لاعِبُ

وَغودِرَ شَعبٌ في الكِنانَةِ لاعِبُ

Peoples were annihilated whose zeal in war was intense,

Nations were annihilated despite their supreme struggle,

while a people in al-Kinana was left at play.

While a people at play has been destroyed.

لَبِستُم رِداءَ السِلمِ إِذ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ

لَبِستُم رِداءَ السِلمِ إِذ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ

لَها مِن دِماءِ الهالِكينَ جَلابِبُ

لَها مِن دِماءِ الهالِكينَ جَلابِبُ

You wore the robe of peace, when every nation

You have put on the garb of peace, though to every nation

had robes of the blood of those who perished.

Belong some blood-smeared tatters.

فَلا تَكفُروها يا بَني مِصرَ نِعمَةً

فَلا تَكفُروها يا بَني مِصرَ نِعمَةً

وَلا يَجلِبَنَّ الشَرَّ في مِصرَ جالِبُ

وَلا يَجلِبَنَّ الشَرَّ في مِصرَ جالِبُ

So do not be ungrateful for this blessing, O sons of Egypt,

So do not impugn it, O Sons of Egypt, as a blessing

and let no one ever bring evil into Egypt.”

Nor let a despoiler bring destruction to Egypt.

لَعَمري لَقَد غالَ النُفوسَ فَسادُها

لَعَمري لَقَد غالَ النُفوسَ فَسادُها

وَلا كَنُفوسٍ أَفسَدَتها المَناصِبُ

وَلا كَنُفوسٍ أَفسَدَتها المَناصِبُ

By my life, souls have surely been ruined by their own corruption,

By my life! Souls have been corrupted by the corruption of position,

and none are like souls that offices have corrupted.

And no souls have been more corrupted than those of governors.

تَطيبُ سَجايا المَرءِ حَتّى إِذا سَما

تَطيبُ سَجايا المَرءِ حَتّى إِذا سَما

بِهِ مَنصِبٌ دَبَّت إِلَيهِ المَعائِبُ

بِهِ مَنصِبٌ دَبَّت إِلَيهِ المَعائِبُ

A man's traits are good until he is raised

A man's qualities are sound until, when he attains

by an office, when faults creep into him.

A position, defects creep over him.

أَخَذنا عَلى القَومِ العُهودَ فَما وَفوا

أَخَذنا عَلى القَومِ العُهودَ فَما وَفوا

وَلا صَدَقَت أَخلاقُهُم وَالضَرائِبُ

وَلا صَدَقَت أَخلاقُهُم وَالضَرائِبُ

We exacted pledges from those people, but they did not keep them,

We made agreements with the people, but they did not keep their word,

nor did their character and dispositions prove true.

Nor did their pledges and promises prove sincere.

كَأَنّا وَإِيّاهُم عَلى مُستَكِنَّةٍ

كَأَنّا وَإِيّاهُم عَلى مُستَكِنَّةٍ

مِنَ الحِقدِ نُخفيها مَعاً وَنُوارِبُ

مِنَ الحِقدِ نُخفيها مَعاً وَنُوارِبُ

As though we and they harbored something hidden

We and they are as though, in our hatred, we charge at each other

of rancor, concealing it together and dissembling.

While outwardly we feign friendliness and amity!

يَخافونَ بَعضَ اللائِمينَ وَنَتَّقي

يَخافونَ بَعضَ اللائِمينَ وَنَتَّقي

بَوادِرَهُم فَالشَرُّ حَيرانُ هائِبُ

بَوادِرَهُم فَالشَرُّ حَيرانُ هائِبُ

They fear some of those who reproach, while we guard against

We fear some of the critics and so avoid

their outbursts; so evil is bewildered and afraid.

Taking precautions against them, so confusion stalls the mind.

كِلانا عَلى ما يَسلِبُ النَفسَ حِلمَها

كِلانا عَلى ما يَسلِبُ النَفسَ حِلمَها

مِنَ الأَمرِ لا راضٍ وَلا هُو غاضِبُ

مِنَ الأَمرِ لا راضٍ وَلا هُو غاضِبُ

Each of us, over what robs the soul of its forbearance

We both refrain from things that deprive the soul of its tolerance

in this affair, is neither content nor angry.

Whether we are content or angry.

وَإِنَّ بِلاداً سامَها الضَيمَ أَهلُها

وَإِنَّ بِلاداً سامَها الضَيمَ أَهلُها

لَأَجدَرُ أَن يَقضي عَلَيها الأَجانِبُ

لَأَجدَرُ أَن يَقضي عَلَيها الأَجانِبُ

Indeed, a land whose own people have subjected it to oppression

Countries that have been wronged by their own people

is all the more liable to be destroyed by foreigners.

Are more deserving to be rid of foreigners!

يُصيبونَ مِنها كُلَّ يَومٍ فَريسَةً

يُصيبونَ مِنها كُلَّ يَومٍ فَريسَةً

تُمَزِّقُها أَنيابُهُم وَالمَخالِبُ

تُمَزِّقُها أَنيابُهُم وَالمَخالِبُ

They seize prey from it every day,

From these countries they snatch each day some prey

which their fangs and claws tear apart.

Which their swords shred and their claws tear.

أُسودٌ عَلى المُستَضعَفينَ ثَعالِبٌ

أُسودٌ عَلى المُستَضعَفينَ ثَعالِبٌ

تَروغُ إِذا هَبَّ القَوِيُّ المُواثِبُ

تَروغُ إِذا هَبَّ القَوِيُّ المُواثِبُ

Lions against the downtrodden, foxes

They are lions toward the weak, creeping foxes

that slink away when the strong assailant springs up.

When the strong young lion springs up.

سَئِمنا حَياةَ الذُلِّ وَالذُلُّ مَركَبٌ

سَئِمنا حَياةَ الذُلِّ وَالذُلُّ مَركَبٌ

يُسايِرُ فيهِ المَوتَ مَن هُوَ راكِبُ

يُسايِرُ فيهِ المَوتَ مَن هُوَ راكِبُ

We are sick of a life of humiliation, and humiliation is a mount

We are tired of the life of humiliation, and humiliation

upon which its rider travels alongside death.

Accompanies him who rides upon it to death.

نُريدُ فَيَأبى الظالِمونَ وَنَشتَكي

نُريدُ فَيَأبى الظالِمونَ وَنَشتَكي

فَيَحجِبُنا مِنهُم عَنِ العَدلِ حاجِبُ

فَيَحجِبُنا مِنهُم عَنِ العَدلِ حاجِبُ

We desire, but the oppressors refuse, and we complain,

We demand, but the oppressors refuse

so a gatekeeper among them bars us from justice.

And we complain, but the guard of justice bars us from equity.

دَهانا مِنَ الأَقوامِ ما لَو دَها الصَفا

دَهانا مِنَ الأَقوامِ ما لَو دَها الصَفا

لَفاضَت دَماً عَن جانِبَيهِ المَذانِبُ

لَفاضَت دَماً عَن جانِبَيهِ المَذانِبُ

We have suffered from these peoples what, had it struck smooth rock,

We have tasted harm from the peoples such as if harm like unto it

would have made the watercourses overflow with blood from both its sides.

Were tasted, the sides of high mountains would flow with blood.

وَلَو أَنَّ بِالشُمِّ الشَوامِخِ ما بِنا

وَلَو أَنَّ بِالشُمِّ الشَوامِخِ ما بِنا

لَما ثَبُتَت مِنها الذُرى وَالجَوانِبُ

لَما ثَبُتَت مِنها الذُرى وَالجَوانِبُ

And had the lofty, towering mountains borne what we bear,

Had my withstanding been in high mountains,

their peaks and flanks would not have stood firm.

Their peaks would not have stood firm.

أَما تُحسِنُ الأَيّامُ صُنعاً بِأُمَّةٍ

أَما تُحسِنُ الأَيّامُ صُنعاً بِأُمَّةٍ

أَساءَت بِها الصُنعَ اللَيالي الذَواهِبُ

أَساءَت بِها الصُنعَ اللَيالي الذَواهِبُ

Will the days not deal kindly with a nation

Can the nights deal graciously with a people

that the passing nights have treated badly?

So ill-treated by their nights rapidly fleeing?

صَبَرنا وَهَذا مُنتَهى الصَبرِ كُلِّهِ

صَبَرنا وَهَذا مُنتَهى الصَبرِ كُلِّهِ

فَأَينَ أَمانينا وَأَينَ المَآرِبُ

فَأَينَ أَمانينا وَأَينَ المَآرِبُ

We have endured, and this is the utmost limit of all endurance;

We were patient, and that was the utmost limit of all patience.

so where are our wishes, and where are our aims?

So where are our hopes and where is deliverance?

فَلا مَجدَ لِلأَوطانِ حَتّى يَزورَها

فَلا مَجدَ لِلأَوطانِ حَتّى يَزورَها

كَتائِبُ تُزجيها لِقَومي كَتائِبُ

كَتائِبُ تُزجيها لِقَومي كَتائِبُ

So there is no glory for homelands until they are visited

No glory belongs to homelands if only

by battalions that battalions send onward to my people.

Battalions that drive them like battalions visit them.