1. شَرُف الزمان به وساد الجيلُ

    شرع البلاد وحكمها المأمولُ

    Through it the age gained honor and the generation rose supreme:

    the country's constitution and its long-awaited government.

  2. في الرونق الضاحي تجلى بعد ما

    لجت عواصف دونه وسيول

    It appeared in radiant splendor, after

    storms and torrents had raged in its path.

  3. هزَّ المشارق عيده فتجملت

    بغداد واحتفلت به كابول

    Its festival stirred the eastern lands; resplendent was

    Baghdad, while Kabul celebrated it.

  4. ودعت بأنقرة لمصر عشيرةٌ

    شماء تعمل حرةً وتقول

    And in Ankara a people prayed for Egypt,

    proud, free in deed and speech.

  5. ولئن تناءى بين مصر وبينها

    سبب الجوار فإنه موصول

    Though distance has grown between Egypt and them,

    the bond of neighborliness remains unbroken.

  6. ألمصر أم للمشرقين كليهما

    هذا الصباح الأبلج المصقول

    Is it for Egypt, or for both Easts together,

    this radiant, burnished morning?

  7. اليوم تجري أدمع الفرح التي

    ذنب الزمان بها غداً مغسول

    Today flow the tears of joy through which

    time's sin will be washed away tomorrow.

  8. وضح الصواب لكل مطَّلع فما

    فيه مغالطة ولا تأويل

    The truth is clear to every observer; there is

    no sophistry in it, nor strained interpretation.

  9. ذا بعض ما وصلت إليه من المدى

    تلك الضحايا والدم المطلول

    This is part of the goal attained by

    those sacrifices and that blood shed unavenged.

  10. يا يوم فاتحة الرجاء لك الرضا

    ولربك التكبير والتهليل

    O day that opens hope, to you our contentment,

    and to your Lord, cries of His greatness and oneness.

  11. هل جئت بالشورى بهيجا معلماً

    أم جاء فيك من السماء رسول

    Have you come, joyous and distinguished, bearing consultation,

    or has a messenger from heaven come upon you?

  12. أنت الجميل الفخم للوادي فما

    لك غير ميعاد الجلاء مثيل

    You are the Valley's beautiful, majestic day; you have

    no equal save the appointed day of evacuation.

  13. جاءت رضاً فيه وراحت راحة

    هذي النيابة عنه والتوكيل

    It came as approval of him, and departed as comfort—

    this representation on his behalf, this delegation of power.

  14. من كل ندب ما دعاه قَبِيْلُهُ

    إلا ومنه لمن دعاه قبيل

    From every gallant man whom his clan never summoned

    without finding in him a guarantor for those who called him.

  15. وكأنما المحراب كلَّ أريكة

    وكأن كلَّ محدث جبريل

    As though every couch were a prayer niche,

    and every speaker were Gabriel.

  16. في هذه الحجراتِ تعرف مصر ما

    أمست عليه وما إليه تؤول

    In these chambers Egypt learns what

    she has become, and what she will come to.

  17. ويخط آمال البلاد وأهلها

    فيه شباب عاقل وكهول

    And the hopes of the land and its people are inscribed

    there by discerning youths and older men.

  18. المجد ما بنت الشمائل سمحة

    لا ما بنته أسنة ونصول

    Glory is what generous virtues build,

    not what spearheads and sword blades build.

  19. وعزائم الأبطال غير صحيحة

    إن لم تقدها أنفس وعقول

    The heroes' resolves are unsound

    unless souls and minds guide them.

  20. إن يحتفل بالظافرين مهنِّئٌ

    فليبتدر للعاثرين مقيل

    If a well-wisher celebrates the victors,

    let a helper hasten to lift those who stumble.

  21. من لم يتب أو من أبى الحسنى إلى

    من تاب فهو الخاذل المخذول

    Whoever does not repent, or refuses kindness to

    one who repents, is the deserter, himself deserted.

  22. ضمنَ الحياة لكل شعب شملُهُ

    متألِّفاً وحسامُهُ المسلول

    Every people's life is safeguarded by their ranks,

    drawn together, and their unsheathed sword.

  23. ما كانت الدنيا مجادلة ولا

    سبب العلا التأويل والتعليل

    The world was never mere disputation, nor

    are interpretation and justification the means to greatness.

  24. لا يستحق من الحياة نصيبه

    متلمس للحق وهو ذليل

    He does not deserve his share of life

    who seeks his right while remaining abject.

  25. ما كان ندّاً شعب مصر لدولة

    تجتاح وهو مقيد مغلول

    Egypt's people were no match for a state

    that swept all before it, while they lay bound and shackled.

  26. كسر الأسيرُ القيدَ وهو مضاعفٌ

    وقضى الغريم الدين وهو ثقيل

    The captive broke the fetter, though it was doubled,

    and the debtor paid the debt, though it was heavy.

  27. ولقد أبى حمل المهانة والأذى

    ذاك المقيم عليهما المجبول

    Indeed, he refused to bear humiliation and harm—

    that one who had lived with both, inured to them.

  28. لا ينهض المغلوب إلا بعد ما

    يتنبه المخدوع والمختول

    The vanquished do not rise until

    the deceived and deluded awaken.

  29. إني رأيتُ ممالكاً قامت على

    أنقاضها أخرى وسوف تدول

    I have seen kingdoms upon whose

    ruins others arose—and these too shall pass.

  30. هل يأمن المنهوم من أحشائه

    أن يملأ الأحشاء وهو عليل

    Can the glutton feel safe from his own entrails

    when he fills his belly while ill?

  31. ولربما سلم المقاتل في الوغى

    وأماته المشروب والمأكول

    A fighter may well survive the battle,

    yet be killed by what he drinks and eats.

  32. هل يستقيم منازع وقريبه

    متبرم والجار منه ملول

    Can a contender prosper while his kinsman

    is aggrieved and his neighbor is weary of him?

  33. وَيمُدُّ سؤدده ومن أجزائه

    في كل يوم جانبٌ مفصول

    And can he extend his dominion while of its parts

    a portion is severed every day?

  34. أين الذين تحكموا فتراجعت

    بهمُ غياض الأرض وهي محول

    Where are those who ruled despotically, until there receded

    before them the earth's thickets, now barren wastes?

  35. لا يستوون على الأرائك فخمة

    إلا وتحتهمُ الدماء تسيل

    They never settled on sumptuous couches

    but blood flowed beneath them.

  36. اللّه بدلهم بأرحم عصبة

    للعاملين وحبذا التبديل

    God replaced them with a band more merciful

    to working people—how fine the change!

  37. وارتدَّ بعد شقائه ببلاده

    علماً عليها العامل المجهول

    And after hardship in his country, there returned

    as a beacon over it, the once-unknown worker.

  38. وغدا الذي للجاه كان مسخَّراً

    يزن المرافق عادلاً ويكيل

    And he who once was made to serve prestige

    now weighs out public benefits fairly, and measures them.

  39. يملي على المال الزكاة محتماً

    أن لا يكون بدونها تمويل

    He enjoins almsgiving upon wealth, insisting

    that without it there shall be no financing.

  40. أدرى بآلام الحياة من ابتلى

    نكد الحياة تمضُّه وتهول

    Most knowing of life's pains is he who has endured

    life's misery, which torments and terrifies him.

  41. أولى بكرسيِّ العلا في قومه

    من عاش يكفل قومه ويعول

    Most worthy of his people's seat of eminence

    is he who has lived supporting and sustaining them.

  42. أيعيش من أكتاف ألفٍ واحدٌ

    قاسٍ على الألف الشقيِّ بخيل

    Should one man live off the shoulders of a thousand,

    harsh and miserly toward that wretched thousand?

  43. طابت ممارسة البلاد لدهرها

    من بعد ما غشِي البلاد خمول

    The land now fares well in its dealings with time,

    after lethargy had enveloped the land.

  44. وكأن مصر لأهل مصرَ مصيدةٌ

    وكأن ربَّ البيت فيه نزيل

    It was as though Egypt were a trap for Egyptians,

    and the master of the house a lodger within it.

  45. وتجشم الأحرار في أوطانهم

    ما جشمتهم غربةٌ ورحيل

    And free men endured in their own homelands

    what exile and departure had made them endure.

  46. وصل التناجي بينهم من بعد ما

    حالت بحار بينهم وسهول

    Intimate converse linked them, after

    seas and plains had stood between them.

  47. للّه والعرش المقدس والحمى

    هذا السلام وذلك التبجيل

    To God, the sacred throne, and the homeland

    go this salutation and that reverence.

  48. ومن المواثيق المتينة بينهم

    هذا العناق وذلك التقبيل

    And among the firm covenants between them

    are this embrace and that kiss.

  49. يا واحد الوادي وكل من اقتدى

    بك صاحب لك في العلا وزميل

    O matchless one of the Valley, everyone who follows

    you is your companion and comrade in greatness.

  50. نجيت قومك والبلاد كما نجت

    في عهد موسى أمس إسرائيل

    You saved your people and the land, as deliverance came

    in Moses' time, long ago, to Israel.

  51. وأتيت في الميعاد وهو مقدر

    لهمُ فلا مهلٌ ولا تعجيل

    You came at the appointed time, ordained

    for them, with neither delay nor haste.

  52. رجعَى ومنقلبٌ إليك وحبذا

    هذا المصيرُ الكافل المكفول

    A return and a homecoming to you—how welcome

    this outcome, safeguarding and safeguarded.

  53. فضل المعيد الحصن وهو معالم

    لك والمعيد الجيش وهو فلول

    The merit of restoring a fortress reduced to traces

    is yours, and of restoring an army scattered in remnants.

  54. أنت المفضل عند مصر وأهلها

    ولمصر عندك ذلك التفضيل

    You are favored by Egypt and her people,

    and Egypt enjoys that same favor with you.

  55. يا من تعرَّض للعدى ورماحُهم

    ملء الفضاء وللسيوف صليل

    O you who faced the foes while their spears

    filled the air and their swords rang out,

  56. حدثهمُ وأمورهم بيد الذي

    هو صاحب لك طيب وخليل

    address them: their affairs are in the hands of one

    who is your kindly companion and close friend.

  57. في شرعة الوزراء من عمالهم

    أمل لمصر وغير مصر جليل

    In the ministers' policy, through their officials,

    lies great hope for Egypt and lands beyond Egypt.

  58. لاقت وزارتك السعيدة مثلها

    منهم وسار إلى الجميل جميل

    Your fortunate ministry met its counterpart

    among them, and good went forth to meet good.

  59. فهما من الحسنى على وعدٍ لما

    هو للقطيعة والجفاء مزيل

    Both are pledged to goodwill, to what

    dispels estrangement and coldness.

  60. الصلح أولى للغريم وقد قضى

    حكَمٌ وأشهاد عليه عدول

    Reconciliation is best for the debtor once judgment is passed

    by an arbiter, with upright witnesses against him.

  61. لك عنده الحق المبين وقد مضى

    جبروته والتيه والتهويل

    Your right against him is clear, and gone are

    his tyranny, arrogance, and intimidation.

  62. قاضيته فأقرَّ ثم وفى به

    لك فاستراح غريمه الممطول

    You brought your claim against him; he admitted it, then fulfilled it

    for you, and his long-stalled creditor found relief.

  63. خيرٌ له العمل المنزَّه بعد ما

    خلت الوعود السود والتضليل

    Honorable action is better for him, now that

    dark promises and deception have passed.

  64. ولقد يرى من مصر وهو معاهدٌ

    ما لا يرى من مصر وهو دخيل

    As a treaty partner he may see from Egypt

    what he cannot see from Egypt as an intruder:

  65. وُدَّ الأباةِ وإنه لمنزَّهٌ

    ورضى الغضابِ وإنه لجزيل

    the affection of the unbowed, pure indeed,

    and the contentment of the angry, great indeed.

  66. لا تطمئِنَّ إلى الذي هو شارط

    إلا وشرطك قبله مقبول

    Do not trust one who lays down terms

    unless your own terms are accepted first.

  67. ومن التغالي أن نعدَّك نائلاً

    منه ولست كما تنال تنيل

    It is going too far to count you as receiving

    from him without giving as you receive.

  68. تصل المنافع بين أشتات الورى

    ما لم تصله قرابة وأصول

    Shared interests join the scattered peoples

    where kinship and ancestry could not.

  69. هل يدَّعي استقلال مصر مرابط

    في الشاطئين ودون مصرٍ ميل

    Can one claim Egypt's independence while garrisoned

    on the two banks, a mile short of Egypt?

  70. النيل مخلوق لواديه فما

    هو عنه منصرف ولا منقول

    The Nile was created for its valley; it

    neither turns away from it nor is diverted.

  71. سودان مصر شقيق مصر ولم يكن

    ليحول بين الأقربين عذول

    Egypt's Sudan is Egypt's brother; never shall

    a reproacher come between the closest kin.

  72. حريةُ الوادي وماء حياته

    حتمٌ عليك وغيرُ ذاك فضول

    The Valley's freedom and its life-giving water

    are your bounden duty; all else is excess.

  73. ومن اطمأن فمرحباً بيقينه

    ومن استراب فما عليك سبيل

    Whoever rests assured—welcome to his certainty;

    whoever doubts has no claim against you.

  74. إن الذي أمنَ الطريقَ لمصر لا

    يعنيه أنَّ طريق مصر طويل

    He who has secured the road for Egypt is not

    troubled that Egypt's road is long.

  75. إن الذي بدأ الجهاد لقومه

    حتم عليه إلى المدى التكميل

    He who began the struggle for his people

    must carry it through to its goal.

  76. والمسترد الحقَّ من سلَّابِهِ

    باق يدافع دونه ويحول

    And he who wrests a right back from its plunderers

    remains to defend it and bar their way.

  77. أوزارة الوادي تؤول إليك أم

    عبء عليك لأهله محمول

    Does the Valley's ministry fall to you, or

    is it a burden you bear for its people?

  78. كلفت نفسك همَّ قومك بعد ما

    أيقنت أنك وحدك المسئول

    You charged yourself with your people's cares, once

    you knew that you alone bore responsibility.

  79. وقد استقر الحكم للأولى به

    حراً وعاد إلى الأسود الغيل

    Now rule has settled with the one most worthy of it,

    unfettered, and the thicket has returned to the lions.

  80. هل يترك الميدان فارس قومه

    قبل المدى والخصم فيه يجول

    Does his people's knight leave the field

    before the goal, while the foe still roams it?

  81. لا مستحيلَ على المُصِرِّ فكلُّ ما

    صحَّت عليه عزيمةٌ مفعول

    Nothing is impossible for the persistent; all that

    a firm resolve determines shall be done.

  82. أيضن بالمال الحلال على بني

    واديه من دمُه لهم مبذول

    Would he begrudge lawful wealth to the sons of

    his valley, he whose blood is freely offered them?

  83. ويريد أن يُجزَى بما هو صانعٌ

    بطل بهم عن نفسه مشغول

    And would he seek reward for what he does—

    a hero absorbed in them, heedless of himself?

  84. سبق الغزاة إلى الفتوح كبيرةً

    بالرأي من هو للغزاة سليل

    He outstripped conquerors in mighty conquests,

    by judgment, he who is the conquerors' scion.

  85. يا حاملَ القرآن تدعو بالذي

    يدعو به التوراةُ والانجيل

    O bearer of the Quran, you call for that

    which the Torah and Gospel call for.

  86. أشريعةُ الحُلَفاءِ أهدى منهجاً

    مما شرعتَ وسنَّ إسمعيل

    Does the allies' law offer a truer path

    than what you ordained and Ismail established?

  87. للّه مصرٌ في الرياض تسابقت

    جدواك في جنباتها والنيل

    God bless Egypt! Amid her gardens raced

    your bounty throughout her reaches, and the Nile.

  88. ما زلت توسع جانبيها عامراً

    حتى تساوى عرضها والطول

    You kept broadening her inhabited flanks,

    until her breadth and length were equal.

  89. صبَّحتها بوزارة هي جِدَّةٌ

    لكيانها ولدهرها تعديل

    You greeted her morning with a ministry that brings renewal

    to her being and correction to her age.

  90. ومضى قويماً من زمانك من قضى

    زمنين يعثر تارة ويميل

    And in your time walked straight one who had spent

    two eras stumbling at times and swaying.

  91. الشعب حولك والوسائل حرّةٌ

    والدهرُ سلمٌ والمراد ينيل

    The people surround you, the means are unfettered,

    the age is at peace, and the goal is within reach.

  92. في كل مملكةٍ سفيرٌ كابرٌ

    هو حجةٌ لك عندها ودليل

    In every kingdom stands an eminent ambassador,

    who is your advocate and witness before it.

  93. فخم يمثل شعبه وبلاده

    فوق الشعوب وحبذا التمثيل

    A majestic man, representing his people and country

    above the peoples—how fine the representation!

  94. كانت تعلَّةَ وامقٍ فجعلتها

    وهي العيان الصادق المعقول

    It was a lover's consolation; you made it

    a visible reality, true and comprehensible.

  95. إن لم يكن للتاجِ شعبك مخلصاً

    فبأي حقٍّ يهتدي ويصول

    If your people are not loyal to the crown,

    by what right could it find its way and wield power?

  96. بالعدل والإحسان تدرك غاية

    لا الجيش يدركها ولا الأسطول

    Through justice and kindness you attain a goal

    that neither army nor fleet can attain.

  97. يا مالك الوادي وأنت ضمانه

    وعلى رضاك ورأيك التعويل

    O master of the Valley, you are its safeguard,

    and on your approval and judgment all reliance rests.

  98. جاهدتُ فيه طيِّب العقبى وبي

    مما أجاهدُ رقةٌ ونحول

    I strove within it, with a happy outcome, yet I bear

    from my striving frailty and wasting.

  99. ورجعت باستقلاله مترنماً

    وعليَّ منه التاج والإكليل

    And I returned singing of its independence,

    wearing from it the crown and wreath.