أعيذُكَ يا ذا الفضلِ مما يشينُهُ

أعيذُكَ يا ذا الفضلِ مما يشينُهُ

وذا المجدِ مما لا يليقُ بذي المجدِ

وذا المجدِ مما لا يليقُ بذي المجدِ

I seek protection for you, O man of merit, from whatever mars it,

I seek refuge in You, O Most Virtuous One, from that which disgraces,

and O man of glory, from what ill befits a man of glory.

And O Most Glorious One from that which befits not the glorious.

تُفرِّدُني بالعتبِ دونَ عصابةٍ

تُفرِّدُني بالعتبِ دونَ عصابةٍ

تفرَّدُ عنّي بالإجابةِ والرَّدِّ

تفرَّدُ عنّي بالإجابةِ والرَّدِّ

You single me out for reproach, passing over a band

You single me out for reproach, not the group,

that, without me, alone gives assent and refusal.

And single Yourself out from responding or answering me.

ومن نائباتِ الدَّهر أنّي نائبٌ

ومن نائباتِ الدَّهر أنّي نائبٌ

ومالي يدٌ في حلِّ أمرٍ ولا عقْدِ

ومالي يدٌ في حلِّ أمرٍ ولا عقْدِ

Among time's calamities is that I am a deputy,

Among the turns of fate is that I suffer,

yet I have no hand in undoing or concluding an affair.

With no power over resolving matters or contracts.

إذا لم يكن يوماً لَدَى البأسِ لي يَدٌ

إذا لم يكن يوماً لَدَى البأسِ لي يَدٌ

فلا حَمَلَتْ كفيِّ لمكرُمَةٍ زَنْدي

فلا حَمَلَتْ كفيِّ لمكرُمَةٍ زَنْدي

If ever, on a day of battle, I have no hand in it,

When I have no might in times of tribulation,

then may my forearm never lift my hand for a noble deed.

My palm bears no honorable deed.

وإن لم أكن أقضي حقوقَ ذوي النُّهَى

وإن لم أكن أقضي حقوقَ ذوي النُّهَى

فمن ذا الذي يقْضي حقوقَهُمْ بعدي

فمن ذا الذي يقْضي حقوقَهُمْ بعدي

And if I do not fulfill the claims of those with understanding,

And if I do not fulfil the rights of the reverent,

then who will fulfill their claims after me?

Then who after me can fulfil their rights?

ولو أَنني أُعطيتُ سُؤْلي من العلى

ولو أَنني أُعطيتُ سُؤْلي من العلى

لكنتُ بما أُخفيهِ من سرّها أُبدي

لكنتُ بما أُخفيهِ من سرّها أُبدي

Had I been granted my desired share of eminence,

If I were granted my request from on high,

I would reveal what I conceal of its secret.

I would reveal the secrets it hides.

ولست بما فيه أنا اليومَ قانعاً

ولست بما فيه أنا اليومَ قانعاً

ولكنْ من العلياء أَغدو على وعدِ

ولكنْ من العلياء أَغدو على وعدِ

I am not content with the state I am in today,

I am not content today with what I am,

but I go forth on a promise of eminence.

But from the Sublime Ones I set out upon a promise.

بواسِطَ مكثي لانتظارِ مواعدٍ

بواسِطَ مكثي لانتظارِ مواعدٍ

لها وليومٍ يمكُثُ السّيفُ في الغمْدِ

لها وليومٍ يمكُثُ السّيفُ في الغمْدِ

In Wasit I remain, awaiting promises

Through my waiting for the fulfillment of promises,

of it, and a day when the sword remains in its sheath.

Made to me, and days when swords remain sheathed.

سأَعزِمُ عزمَ الماجدينَ برحلةٍ

سأَعزِمُ عزمَ الماجدينَ برحلةٍ

أُصَوَّبُ فيها نحوَ مَنْقَبَةٍ قصدي

أُصَوَّبُ فيها نحوَ مَنْقَبَةٍ قصدي

I shall resolve, with noble men's resolve, upon a journey,

I will resolutely journey, as the glorious do,

on which I direct my aim toward a noble achievement.

Toward a destination I aim for.

وما فضَلَ الهِنديُّ إثراً وقيمةً

وما فضَلَ الهِنديُّ إثراً وقيمةً

حدودُ الظُّبى حتى تناءَت عن الهندِ

حدودُ الظُّبى حتى تناءَت عن الهندِ

Nor did Indian steel excel in effect and worth—

The Indian has not surpassed in relics and worth,

its blade-edges—until they were far from India.

Thefrontiers of the antelope, however far India extends.

وما أَنصفَ العلياءَ مَنْ خَصَّ أهلَها

وما أَنصفَ العلياءَ مَنْ خَصَّ أهلَها

بذمّ وهم أَهلُ الثَّنا وذوو الحخمدِ

بذمّ وهم أَهلُ الثَّنا وذوو الحخمدِ

He does not do justice to eminence who singles out its people

Those who blamed the Sublime Ones wronged them,

for blame, though they deserve praise and commendation.

Though they arepeople of praise, of glory, and perfection.

أولي الفضلِ باسِيسِيُّكُمْ خصَّ بأسه

أولي الفضلِ باسِيسِيُّكُمْ خصَّ بأسه

عتاباً بمن يرجوه في الوُدِّ للرِّفْدِ

عتاباً بمن يرجوه في الوُدِّ للرِّفْدِ

O men of merit, your Basisi has reserved his severity

O my noble friend, your might has singled out

as reproach for one who, in friendship, hopes for his aid.

Reproach for one who hopes in you for bounty.

فاهُدوا له عنّي عِتاباً لعلَّه

فاهُدوا له عنّي عِتاباً لعلَّه

على حادثات الدَّهرِ يُعْتبُ أو يُعدِي

على حادثات الدَّهرِ يُعْتبُ أو يُعدِي

So convey to him a reproach from me; perhaps he

So convey to him from me a reproach, perhaps

will offer redress or aid against time's calamities.

He willreproach or relent regarding the turns of fate.

أَنارت مساعيهِ النيرةُ فاغتدى

أَنارت مساعيهِ النيرةُ فاغتدى

لها كلُّ من يَبْغي السّعادةَ يستهدي

لها كلُّ من يَبْغي السّعادةَ يستهدي

His radiant endeavors shone, so now

His pure efforts shine, so all who desire bliss

all who seek happiness seek guidance from them.

Are guided by them.

أَمستفرِغاً في عَتْب مثليَ جَهْدَه

أَمستفرِغاً في عَتْب مثليَ جَهْدَه

وفي شكره ما زِلتُ مُستفرِغاً جهدي

وفي شكره ما زِلتُ مُستفرِغاً جهدي

Does he expend all his effort in reproaching one like me,

While I exhaust myself reproaching the likes of me,

while I have never ceased expending all my effort in thanking him?

In praising him I have always exhausted my efforts.

تجرَّعتُ كأسَ العتب مُرّاً وإنّما

تجرَّعتُ كأسَ العتب مُرّاً وإنّما

لِوُدَّكَ عندي كان أحلى من الشُّهْدِ

لِوُدَّكَ عندي كان أحلى من الشُّهْدِ

I swallowed the bitter cup of reproach; yet only

I sipped the cup of reproach bitter, though

because of my love for you was it sweeter to me than honey.

Your love to me was sweeter than honey.

وإنَّ اعتدادي بالوِداد لصادق

وإنَّ اعتدادي بالوِداد لصادق

لديكَ فلمْ كذَّبتَ آمال مُعْتَدِّ

لديكَ فلمْ كذَّبتَ آمال مُعْتَدِّ

And my reliance on affection is truly sincere

My esteem for true friendship with you

toward you; why, then, did you disappoint the hopes of one who trusted?

Did not belie my hopes of continuity.

أَفي العدل أنَّ الوصلَ يَحْظَى به العِدا

أَفي العدل أنَّ الوصلَ يَحْظَى به العِدا

وبالعَذْلِ أَحظى والعلاقة بي وحدي

وبالعَذْلِ أَحظى والعلاقة بي وحدي

Is it just that enemies enjoy closeness,

Is it justice that intimacy is granted to a foe,

while I receive censure, though I alone am bound by love?

While estrangement is my lot, and the bond exclusively mine?

أَبا عُمَرُ المعمورُ قلبي بودِّه

أَبا عُمَرُ المعمورُ قلبي بودِّه

أَتهدِمُ بُنياناً عَمَرْتُ من الوُدِّ

أَتهدِمُ بُنياناً عَمَرْتُ من الوُدِّ

O Abu Umar, with love for whom my heart is filled,

Abu Umar, my heart filled with love of you,

would you demolish a structure I built of affection?

Would you destroy a structure I built from love?

تأمّلْ حسابي ثمَّ عُدَّ فضائلي

تأمّلْ حسابي ثمَّ عُدَّ فضائلي

فجموعُها يُنبيكَ عن حَسَبي العِدِّ

فجموعُها يُنبيكَ عن حَسَبي العِدِّ

Consider my account, then count my virtues,

Consider my account, then enumerate my merits,

for their multitude tells you of my long-established nobility.

Their total will inform you of my worth.

لقد كَسَدَتْ سوقُ الفضائلِ كلَّها

لقد كَسَدَتْ سوقُ الفضائلِ كلَّها

وَللْهَزْلُ أَحظى في الزَّمان من الجدِّ

وَللْهَزْلُ أَحظى في الزَّمان من الجدِّ

The market for all virtues has indeed grown stagnant,

The market of all merits is obstructed,

and frivolity finds greater favor in this age than earnestness.

While frivolity in this age has prospered over seriousness.

ولستُ أَرى إلاّ كريماًن يَفرُّ من

ولستُ أَرى إلاّ كريماًن يَفرُّ من

لئيمٍ وحُرّاً يشتكي الضيّمَ من عبدِ

لئيمٍ وحُرّاً يشتكي الضيّمَ من عبدِ

And I see only a noble man fleeing from

I see none but a noble one who flees

a base man, and a free man complaining of oppression by a slave.

A wretch, and a free man who complains of oppression by a slave.

ومالي سِوَى ظلِّ الوزيرِ ورأَيهِ

ومالي سِوَى ظلِّ الوزيرِ ورأَيهِ

ملاذٌ ومأمولٌ على القُربِ والبُعدِ

ملاذٌ ومأمولٌ على القُربِ والبُعدِ

Apart from the minister's shelter and counsel, I have

I have no refuge and hope in the minister’s shade and view,

no refuge or source of hope, near or far.

Whether near or far.

قد ابيضَّ حظِّي في ذَراهُ وإنّني

قد ابيضَّ حظِّي في ذَراهُ وإنّني

مُسَوَّدُ مجدٍ حظّه غيرُ مُسَوَدِّ

مُسَوَّدُ مجدٍ حظّه غيرُ مُسَوَدِّ

My fortune has whitened in his shelter, and I am

My fortune has paled during its flow, and I

ennobled in glory, with a fortune unblackened.

Am one whose obscured glory is not obscured.

وبي حَصَرٌ من حَصْرِ أنواءِ بِرِّه

وبي حَصَرٌ من حَصْرِ أنواءِ بِرِّه

وما تدخُلُ الأنَواءُ في الحصرِ والعَدِّ

وما تدخُلُ الأنَواءُ في الحصرِ والعَدِّ

And I am tongue-tied from counting the rain-showers of his kindness,

I am confined by his kindness’ confinement,

and rain-showers cannot be reckoned or counted.

And confinement and number cannot contain kindness.

وإنعامهُ عندي عن الحدِّ زائدٌ

وإنعامهُ عندي عن الحدِّ زائدٌ

وشكري له شكرٌ يزيدُ عن الحدِّ

وشكري له شكرٌ يزيدُ عن الحدِّ

His bounty to me exceeds all bounds,

His beneficence to me exceeds all limits,

and my gratitude to him is gratitude beyond all bounds.

And my gratitude to him exceeds the limits.