مَن كان يُحمَدُ عنده أن يُحمدا

مَن كان يُحمَدُ عنده أن يُحمدا

لم يأسَ من مالٍ على ما انفَدا

لم يأسَ من مالٍ على ما انفَدا

Whoever deems it praiseworthy to be praised

Whoever is praised when praiseworthy

does not regret the wealth he has spent.

Will never despair of wealth, however little remains

ومُلازمُ الفقرِ الشديد معَ الغنى

ومُلازمُ الفقرِ الشديد معَ الغنى

مَن لا يُمدُّ لفعل مكرمةٍ يدَا

مَن لا يُمدُّ لفعل مكرمةٍ يدَا

And he who remains in dire poverty despite wealth

And dire poverty paired with riches

is one who extends no hand to perform a noble deed.

Is for those who never extend a generous hand

لو لا بنو نبهان سَادةُ عصرهم

لو لا بنو نبهان سَادةُ عصرهم

قلنا لقد قبض الإله السؤددا

قلنا لقد قبض الإله السؤددا

Were it not for Banu Nabhan, the lords of their age,

Were it not for the Bani Nabhan, nobles of their time

we would say: God has taken nobility away.

We would say, “God has withheld all generosity”

الجاعلونَ لباسَهم وسَماحَهم

الجاعلونَ لباسَهم وسَماحَهم

وقَفَين ما بين الموالي والعِدَى

وقَفَين ما بين الموالي والعِدَى

They make their garments and their generosity

They who made their clothing and generosity

two endowments between allies and foes.

Common to both ally and foe alike

حرَس الإله عليَّ من حُبِّي لهُم

حرَس الإله عليَّ من حُبِّي لهُم

ونوالَهم لي ما يغيظُ الحُسَّدَا

ونوالَهم لي ما يغيظُ الحُسَّدَا

May God preserve for me, in my love for them

May God protect me from losing the love I have for them

and their bounty to me, what enrages the envious.

And deprive me not of their friendship, which angers the envious

فهمُ الدّين الفتُ حسنَ البرَّ في

فهمُ الدّين الفتُ حسنَ البرَّ في

أبياتِهمْ وعرفتُ أرْباب النَّدى

أبياتِهمْ وعرفتُ أرْباب النَّدى

For they are faith itself; I have known the beauty of kindness in

For they are the religion itself, sound in virtue

their homes, and recognized the lords of generosity.

In their verse have I known the true masters of munificence

حسبي مفيداً للغنى أني إذا

حسبي مفيداً للغنى أني إذا

حاولتُ مأربةً دعوتُ محمَّدا

حاولتُ مأربةً دعوتُ محمَّدا

It is enough to enrich me that, whenever

It suffices me, to gain wealth, that I

I pursue an aim, I call upon Muhammad.

When facing ordeals, call upon Muhammad

وأوزعني شكر الأَيادي التي لكم

وأوزعني شكر الأَيادي التي لكم

ومثلي مَن يُثني ومن يشكُر النّدى

ومثلي مَن يُثني ومن يشكُر النّدى

And I was inspired to give thanks for your favors;

And allot to me thanks for the hands that belong to you

and one like me gives praise and thanks for bounty.

And the like of me, that praise and give thanks to the generous

لعمري قد سيَّرتُ في مِدَحي لكُم

لعمري قد سيَّرتُ في مِدَحي لكُم

قوافيَ من شعري أوابدَ شُرَّدَا

قوافيَ من شعري أوابدَ شُرَّدَا

By my life, I have sent forth, in my praise of you,

By my life, I have set in my praise of you

rhymes from my poetry—wild, wandering creatures.

Rhymes from my poetry that will endure forever

قوافي إذا أَنْشِدْنَ أَطربنَ سَامعاً

قوافي إذا أَنْشِدْنَ أَطربنَ سَامعاً

وشوقّن ممْدوحاً وزَيّنَّ مَشْهدَا

وشوقّن ممْدوحاً وزَيّنَّ مَشْهدَا

Rhymes that, when recited, enrapture a listener,

Rhymes that, when recited, give joy to the listener

and stir longing in the man praised, and grace a gathering.

And stir the one praised and adorn the assembly

بقيتَ أَبا عبد الإله ويا أَبا

بقيتَ أَبا عبد الإله ويا أَبا

محمَّد مع أَبا الحسين مدى المدى

محمَّد مع أَبا الحسين مدى المدى

May you live on, Abu Abd al-Ilah, and O Abu

Live on, Abu Abdillah, and you, Abu

Muhammad, with Abu al-Husayn, for as long as time lasts.

Muhammad, with Abu Hussein, for all time

وعمّرتمُ للصّوم والعيد أنّكُم

وعمّرتمُ للصّوم والعيد أنّكُم

لاَ فضلُ من صلى وصامَ وعيّدَا

لاَ فضلُ من صلى وصامَ وعيّدَا

And may you live long to fast and keep the feast, for you

For you have lived to fast and feast, and indeed

are [probably: the finest] of those who pray, fast, and celebrate the feast.

None superior to one who prays, fasts, and celebrates the feast