ألا قُلْ لسَعْدِ المُلْكِ دام علاؤه

ألا قُلْ لسَعْدِ المُلْكِ دام علاؤه

وقد يَعطِف المَولَى الكريمُ على العَبدِ

وقد يَعطِف المَولَى الكريمُ على العَبدِ

Lo, say to Saʿd al-Mulk—may his eminence endure—

Oh say to Saad of the kingdom, may his glory last,

and a generous master may show kindness to his servant:

And the Bounteous Lord may show favor to His servant,

أَعِدْ نظَراً يا سَعْدُ نَحْوي فإنّما

أَعِدْ نظَراً يا سَعْدُ نَحْوي فإنّما

صلاحُ الوَرى لا زالَ من نَظَرِ السَّعْد

صلاحُ الوَرى لا زالَ من نَظَرِ السَّعْد

Turn your gaze toward me again, O Saʿd, for it is only

Look again towards me, O Saad, for the welfare of the land,

from good fortune’s gaze that humankind’s well-being comes—may this never cease.

Will not cease from the outlook of Saad,

ودُمْ لي وللعلياء والبأسِ والنّدَى

ودُمْ لي وللعلياء والبأسِ والنّدَى

وللدّينِ والدُّنيا وللمُلْكِ والمَجْد

وللدّينِ والدُّنيا وللمُلْكِ والمَجْد

And endure for me, for lofty honor, valor, and generosity,

And live on for me and for the noble and valor and dew,

and for faith and the world, for kingship and glory.

For the faith and the world and the kingdom and glory,

بلَغْتَ من الدّنيا وإن رَغِمَ العِدا

بلَغْتَ من الدّنيا وإن رَغِمَ العِدا

مَراتبَ قد أدركْتَها صاعِدَ الجَدّ

مَراتبَ قد أدركْتَها صاعِدَ الجَدّ

You have attained in this world, despite your enemies’ chagrin,

You have attained from this world, though the enemy dislikes it,

ranks you have already reached with rising fortune.

Ranks you have reached, ascending in excellence,

وأعظَمُ ممّا نِلْتَ ما ستنالُه

وأعظَمُ ممّا نِلْتَ ما ستنالُه

من العزِّ إنّ الألْفَ يَبدأُ من فَرْد

من العزِّ إنّ الألْفَ يَبدأُ من فَرْد

And greater than what you have gained is what you will attain

And greater than what you have attained is what you will attain

of honor: indeed, a thousand begins with a single one.

Of honor, for thousands begin with one.