1. أَنا مِن خَمسَةٍ وَعِشرينَ عاما

    لَم أُرِح في رِضاكُمُ الأَقداما

    For twenty-five years I

    have not rested my feet in seeking your pleasure.

  2. أَركَبُ البَحرَ تارَةً وَأَجوبُ ال

    بَرَّ طَوراً وَأَقطَعُ الأَيّاما

    I sail the sea at times, and traverse the

    land at others, and pass the days.

  3. وَيُوافي النُفوسَ مِنّي رَسولٌ

    لَم يَكُن خائِناً وَلا نَمّاما

    And a messenger from me reaches souls,

    who has been neither a traitor nor a talebearer.

  4. يَحمِلُ الغِشَّ وَالنَصيحَةَ وَالبَغضا

    ءَ وَالحُبَّ وَالرِضى وَالمَلاما

    He carries deceit, counsel, and hatred,

    and love, contentment, and reproach.

  5. وَيَعي ما تُسِرُّهُ مِن كَلامٍ

    وَيُؤَدّي كَما وَعاهُ الكَلاما

    And he retains whatever words you confide,

    and conveys the words just as he retained them.

  6. وَلَقَد أُضحِكُ العَبوسَ بِيَومٍ

    فيهِ أُبكي المُنَعَّمَ البَسّاما

    And indeed I make the sullen laugh on a day

    when I make the pampered, ever-smiling man weep.

  7. وَأُهَنّي عَلى النَوى وَأُعَزّي

    وَأُفيدُ الحِرمانَ وَالإِنعاما

    And, despite separation, I congratulate and console,

    and bring deprivation and bounty.

  8. وَجَزائِيَ عَن خِدمَتي وَوَفائي

    ثَمَنٌ لا يُكَلِّفُ الأَقواما

    And my reward for my service and fidelity

    is a price that places no burden on people.

  9. رُبَّ عَبدٍ قَدِ اِشتَراني بِمالٍ

    وَغُلامٍ قَد ساقَ مِنّي غُلاما

    Many a slave has bought me with money,

    and many a boy has driven me like a servant.

  10. عَرَفَ القَومُ في جِنيفا مَحَلّي

    وَجَزَوني عَن خِدمَتي إِكراما

    The people in Geneva recognized my standing,

    and rewarded me with honor for my service.

  11. جامَلوني إِذ تَمَّ لي رُبعُ قَرنٍ

    مِثلَما جامَلوا المُلوكَ العِظاما

    They paid me tribute when I completed a quarter-century,

    just as they honored great kings.

  12. وَيوبيلُ المُلوكِ يَلبَثُ يَوماً

    وَيوبيلي يَدومُ في الناسِ عاما

    And the jubilee of kings lasts a day,

    while my jubilee lasts a year among the people.