هو ما عَلِمْتِ فأقْصري أو فاعْذُلِي

هو ما عَلِمْتِ فأقْصري أو فاعْذُلِي

وتَرقَّبي عن أيّ عُقْبَى تَنْجَلي

وتَرقَّبي عن أيّ عُقْبَى تَنْجَلي

It is what you know; desist, or reproach me.

Whether you know or are ignorant, be brief or excuse yourself,

And wait to see what outcome will unfold.

And anticipate whatever consequence may result.

لا عارَ إنْ عَطلَتْ يدايَ من الغنَى

لا عارَ إنْ عَطلَتْ يدايَ من الغنَى

كم سابقٍ في الخيلِ غيرِ مُحجَّل

كم سابقٍ في الخيلِ غيرِ مُحجَّل

There is no shame if my hands are bare of wealth:

No shame if my hands are idle from bounty,

how many a winning horse has no white stockings!

How many racers have no saddle!

صانَ اللّئيمُ وصُنتُ وَجْهي ما لَهُ

صانَ اللّئيمُ وصُنتُ وَجْهي ما لَهُ

دُوني فلم يَبذُلْ ولم أتبَذَّل

دُوني فلم يَبذُلْ ولم أتبَذَّل

The miser guarded what was his, while I guarded my face;

The vile were shielded while I protected my face;

he kept it from me, giving nothing, and I did not abase myself.

He is below me so he neither spent nor was wasteful,

أبكي لهمٍ ضافَني مُتأوّباً

أبكي لهمٍ ضافَني مُتأوّباً

إنّ الدُّموعَ قِرَى الهمومِ النُّزَّل

إنّ الدُّموعَ قِرَى الهمومِ النُّزَّل

I weep for a sorrow that visits me, returning at night;

I cry for a tribe that hosted me dejected,

tears are the fare for sorrows that come to lodge.

For tears are the settlements of settled sorrows.

ذهَب الّذينَ صَحبْتُهمْ فوجَدْتُهمْ

ذهَب الّذينَ صَحبْتُهمْ فوجَدْتُهمْ

سُحُبَ المُؤمِّلِ أنجمَ المُتأمِّل

سُحُبَ المُؤمِّلِ أنجمَ المُتأمِّل

Gone are those whose company I kept and whom I found

Those whom I accompanied are gone, and I found them

rainclouds for the hopeful, stars for the contemplative.

Like the clouds of hope for one who wishes.

وبُلِيتُ بعدَهُمُ بكلِّ مُذَمَّمٍ

وبُلِيتُ بعدَهُمُ بكلِّ مُذَمَّمٍ

لا مُجمِلٍ طَبْعاً ولا مُتَجمِّل

لا مُجمِلٍ طَبْعاً ولا مُتَجمِّل

After them I was afflicted with every blameworthy man,

After them, I was afflicted with every frowning face

neither gracious by nature nor even affecting graciousness.

Neither beautiful by nature nor by ornament.

فاقْنَيْ حَياءكِ يا أميمة واتْرُكي

فاقْنَيْ حَياءكِ يا أميمة واتْرُكي

لَوْمي وحُلّي من عقاليَ أرحُلِ

لَوْمي وحُلّي من عقاليَ أرحُلِ

So preserve your modesty, Umayma, and cease

So curb your shyness, O Umayma, and leave

reproaching me; release me from my tether, that I may depart.

Blaming me, untie from my mind, I depart.

لا تُنكري شَيباً ألمَّ بمَفرِقي

لا تُنكري شَيباً ألمَّ بمَفرِقي

عَجِلاً كأنّ سَناهُ سَلّةُ مُنْصل

عَجِلاً كأنّ سَناهُ سَلّةُ مُنْصل

Do not find strange the gray hair that has come upon my parting

Do not deny the white hair that has touched my temples,

in haste, its gleam like the drawing of a blade.

As if its teeth were the blades of a sharp sickle.

فلقد دُفِعْتُ إلى الهمومِ تَنوبُني

فلقد دُفِعْتُ إلى الهمومِ تَنوبُني

منها ثلاثُ شدائدٍ جُمِّعْنَ لي

منها ثلاثُ شدائدٍ جُمِّعْنَ لي

For I have been thrust among sorrows that beset me;

For I was pushed to sorrows that befall me,

three harsh afflictions among them have been joined for me:

Among them are three severe calamities combined for me:

أسَفٌ على ماضي الزّمان وحَيْرةٌ

أسَفٌ على ماضي الزّمان وحَيْرةٌ

في الحالِ منه وخَشيةُ المُستَقْبَل

في الحالِ منه وخَشيةُ المُستَقْبَل

grief for time gone by, bewilderment

Regret over the past days and confusion

at its present state, and fear of the future.

In the present of it and fear of the future.

ما إن وصَلْتُ إلى زمانٍ آخِرٍ

ما إن وصَلْتُ إلى زمانٍ آخِرٍ

إلاّ بكَيْتُ على الزّمانِ الأوّل

إلاّ بكَيْتُ على الزّمانِ الأوّل

Never have I reached a later time

When I reached another time

without weeping for the time before.

I cried over the first time.

للهِ عَهْدٌ بالحِمَى لم أنْسَه

للهِ عَهْدٌ بالحِمَى لم أنْسَه

أيّامَ أعصي في الصَّبابةِ عُذَّلي

أيّامَ أعصي في الصَّبابةِ عُذَّلي

How splendid the time in the protected pasture—I have not forgotten it—

To God is a pact I have not forgotten,

when, in ardent love, I disobeyed my reproachers!

The days I rebelled frivolously in my youth.

كم رُعْتُ هذا الحَيَّ إمّا زائراً

كم رُعْتُ هذا الحَيَّ إمّا زائراً

فَرْداً وإما ثائراً في جَحْفَل

فَرْداً وإما ثائراً في جَحْفَل

How often I alarmed this tribe, whether visiting

How often I herded this tribe, sometimes visiting

alone or attacking with a mighty host!

Alone, and sometimes rebelling in throngs.

فأسَرْتُ آساداً غِضاباً منهمُ

فأسَرْتُ آساداً غِضاباً منهمُ

ورجَعْتُ من أسْرَى غزالٍ أكْحَل

ورجَعْتُ من أسْرَى غزالٍ أكْحَل

I captured raging lions from among them,

I captured lions raging at them

and returned among the captives of a kohl-eyed gazelle.

And returned from the captivity of a black gazelle.

وهَززْتُ أعطافَ الصَّباحِ إليهمُ

وهَززْتُ أعطافَ الصَّباحِ إليهمُ

في مَتْنِ لَيلٍ بالنّهارِ مُخَلْخَل

في مَتْنِ لَيلٍ بالنّهارِ مُخَلْخَل

And I shook the flanks of morning toward them

I shook the edges of dawn to them

upon the back of a night ankleted with day,

In the belly of a night blended with day.

جَذْلانَ يَنتصِبُ انتصابَ المَجْدَلِ ال

جَذْلانَ يَنتصِبُ انتصابَ المَجْدَلِ ال

عالي ويَنقَضُّ انقضاضَ الأجْدَل

عالي ويَنقَضُّ انقضاضَ الأجْدَل

full of spirit, rising like a tower,

My camel rises like an upright tent peg

lofty—and swooping like a falcon.

Lofty, and descends like a landslide,

ويَهُزُّ جِيداً كالقناةِ يَنوطُه

ويَهُزُّ جِيداً كالقناةِ يَنوطُه

بحَديدِ أُذْنٍ كالسِّنانِ مُؤلَّل

بحَديدِ أُذْنٍ كالسِّنانِ مُؤلَّل

He tosses a neck like a lance, which he tips

And shakes his neck like a cane tied

with a keen ear, pointed like a spearhead.

With iron ears like studded pearls.

وتَخالُ غُرّتَهُ سُطوعَ ذُبالةٍ

وتَخالُ غُرّتَهُ سُطوعَ ذُبالةٍ

طَلعتْ بها ليلاً ذُؤابةُ يَذْبُل

طَلعتْ بها ليلاً ذُؤابةُ يَذْبُل

You would take his forehead's blaze for a torch's radiance

And his arrogance rivals the radiance of a lamp

borne aloft at night by Yadhbul's summit.

That rose in the darkness, the dimming stars.

وكأنّ خَطْفَ يَمينه وشِماله

وكأنّ خَطْفَ يَمينه وشِماله

مَسْرَى جَنوبِ بالفلاةِ وشَمْأل

مَسْرَى جَنوبِ بالفلاةِ وشَمْأل

As though the darting of his right and left limbs were

As if his snatching to the right and left

the sweep of south wind and north across the desert.

Were the course of Sirius in the barren land and Suhayl.

قَلّدْتُه ثِنْيَ العِنانِ فطارَ بي

قَلّدْتُه ثِنْيَ العِنانِ فطارَ بي

مَرَّ الشّهابِ يقُدُّ ليلَ القَسطَل

مَرَّ الشّهابِ يقُدُّ ليلَ القَسطَل

I draped the doubled rein upon him, and he flew with me

I adorned him with the bending of the bridle, so he flew with me

with a shooting star's rush, cleaving the night of swirling dust,

Faster than a shooting star, leading the night of Scatal.

في غِلمةٍ لَفُّوا نَواصيَ خَيلِهم

في غِلمةٍ لَفُّوا نَواصيَ خَيلِهم

شُعْثاً بأطرافِ الوَشيج الذُّبَّل

شُعْثاً بأطرافِ الوَشيج الذُّبَّل

among young men who twined their horses' forelocks,

In a boyhood where they wrapped the manes of their horses

disheveled, with the tips of slender spear-shafts.

Disheveled at the edges of worn out rugs.

وكأنّ صُبحاً سائلاً من أوجُهٍ

وكأنّ صُبحاً سائلاً من أوجُهٍ

منها أصابَ قَرارةً في أرْجُل

منها أصابَ قَرارةً في أرْجُل

And it was as though dawn, flowing from faces

As if the morning, asking from faces

among them, had found a basin in their legs.

Among them hit moisture in the legs.

أرمي بها دارَ العَدوّ وفي الحَشا

أرمي بها دارَ العَدوّ وفي الحَشا

لِهوَى الأحبّةِ غُلّةً لم تُبْلَل

لِهوَى الأحبّةِ غُلّةً لم تُبْلَل

I hurl them at the enemy's dwelling, while in my breast

I shoot them at the abode of the enemy and in the battle

a thirst for love of the beloved remains unquenched.

For the love of loved ones, arrows never moistened.

ومدِلّةٍ بالحُسْنِ لا تُبدي الرِّضا

ومدِلّةٍ بالحُسْنِ لا تُبدي الرِّضا

حتّى أُحكّم سَهْمَها في مَقْتلي

حتّى أُحكّم سَهْمَها في مَقْتلي

And many a woman, proud of her beauty, shows no favor

And a twisting in beauty that does not show pleasure

until I give her arrow command of my vital spot.

Until I steady her arrow in my slaughter.

رَحَلَتْ ونابَ خيالُها في ناظري

رَحَلَتْ ونابَ خيالُها في ناظري

عن وَجْهها فكأنّها لم تَرْحَل

عن وَجْهها فكأنّها لم تَرْحَل

She departed, and her image stood in my sight

She went away, and her apparition remains in my sight,

in place of her face, as though she had not departed.

As if she did not depart from her face.

وأبَى خَلاصيَ من طويلِ عَذابِها

وأبَى خَلاصيَ من طويلِ عَذابِها

قلْبٌ متى يَعِدِ التَّسلّيَ يَمْطُل

قلْبٌ متى يَعِدِ التَّسلّيَ يَمْطُل

And my release from her long torment is refused by

And my deliverance from her long torment refused

a heart that, whenever it promises consolation, postpones it.

A heart whenever it promises consolation, it delays.

لو قَبْلَ أن عَلِقَ الفؤادُ بحُبِّكمْ

لو قَبْلَ أن عَلِقَ الفؤادُ بحُبِّكمْ

يا سادتي لم تَعْدِلوا لم نَعْذُل

يا سادتي لم تَعْدِلوا لم نَعْذُل

If, before my heart became attached to your love,

Had it not been for my heart becoming attached to you

you had been unjust, my masters, we would not have blamed you.

My masters, we would not have leaned nor would you be unjust.

لكنْ ملكتُمْ بالغرامِ قُلوبَنا

لكنْ ملكتُمْ بالغرامِ قُلوبَنا

فاليومَ إن لم تُجْمِلوا لم يَجْمُل

فاليومَ إن لم تُجْمِلوا لم يَجْمُل

But through passionate love you have possessed our hearts;

But you possessed our hearts with passion

so today, if you show no kindness, it is unseemly.

So if today you do not treat us well, it will not be beautiful.

فلأسْمُونَّ إلى العَلاء بهِمّةٍ

فلأسْمُونَّ إلى العَلاء بهِمّةٍ

طَمّاحةٍ تَرمي الكواكبَ من عَل

طَمّاحةٍ تَرمي الكواكبَ من عَل

I shall surely rise toward eminence with a resolve

I will soar to the heights with an ambition

so aspiring it aims at the stars from on high.

That shoots for the stars above.

والنَّفْسُ في الوطَنِ الذي نشأَتْ به

والنَّفْسُ في الوطَنِ الذي نشأَتْ به

كالسّيفِ يُسأمُ في يَمينِ الصَّيقَل

كالسّيفِ يُسأمُ في يَمينِ الصَّيقَل

And the soul in the homeland where it grew up

The soul in the homeland in which it was raised

is like a sword grown tiresome in the polisher's right hand.

Is like the sword that dislikes the hand of the polisher.

وعَصائبٍ لاثوا العَصائبَ للسُّرى

وعَصائبٍ لاثوا العَصائبَ للسُّرى

مُتَرنِّحِينَ على فُروعِ الأرحُل

مُتَرنِّحِينَ على فُروعِ الأرحُل

And many a band wrapped their headcloths for night travel,

And bands who made the bands for the captives sigh

swaying upon the tops of saddles.

Swaying on the tree branches.

يَطْوي الفلا زَجَلُ الحُداةِ وراءهمْ

يَطْوي الفلا زَجَلُ الحُداةِ وراءهمْ

بمُهَجِّراتٍ ظلُّها لم يَفْضُل

بمُهَجِّراتٍ ظلُّها لم يَفْضُل

The camel-drivers' chanting behind them folds the desert away

The plains fold behind them the sound of the guides,

with noon-traveling camels whose shade does not extend beyond them.

With female camels whose shade did not remain.

أقبلْنَ من شَرَفِ العُذَيبِ بَواكراً

أقبلْنَ من شَرَفِ العُذَيبِ بَواكراً

والفَجْرُ مثلُ صَفيحةٍ لم تُصقَل

والفَجْرُ مثلُ صَفيحةٍ لم تُصقَل

They came early from the heights of al-Udhayb,

They came from the elevation of Udhayb at daybreak

while dawn was like a blade not yet polished.

And dawn is like an unsmoothed metal sheet.

وكَرعْنَ من ماء النُّقَيْبِ عَشيّةً

وكَرعْنَ من ماء النُّقَيْبِ عَشيّةً

واللّيلُ جَفْنٌ بالدُّجَى لم يُكْحَل

واللّيلُ جَفْنٌ بالدُّجَى لم يُكْحَل

And they drank from the water of al-Nuqayb at evening,

They drank from the spring of Nuqayb in the evening

while night was an eyelid not yet kohled with gloom.

And the night is an eyelid blackened with kohl.

وذرَعْنَ عَرْضَ البِيدِ طائشةَ الخُطا

وذرَعْنَ عَرْضَ البِيدِ طائشةَ الخُطا

بأخي عَزائمَ في البلادِ مُجَوِّل

بأخي عَزائمَ في البلادِ مُجَوِّل

They measured the breadth of the wastes with darting strides,

They spanned the expanse of the desert, wandering,

bearing a man of firm resolve, roaming through the lands.

With my brother's determinations that roam through countries.

ما زوّد الأحبابَ منه تَعلُّلاً

ما زوّد الأحبابَ منه تَعلُّلاً

إلاّ وَداعَ الظّاعنِ المُتَحمِّل

إلاّ وَداعَ الظّاعنِ المُتَحمِّل

He gave his loved ones no solace to remember him by

What the loved ones were given from it of excuses

but the farewell of a departing traveler, loading for the road.

Except the farewell of the complaining endurer.

وسَما للَثْمِ يد المُوفَّقِ إنّه

وسَما للَثْمِ يد المُوفَّقِ إنّه

سَببُ العلاء فعافَ كُلَّ مُقَبِّل

سَببُ العلاء فعافَ كُلَّ مُقَبِّل

He aspired to kiss al-Muwaffaq's hand, for he

And they named the hand of the successful so it is

is the means to eminence; he disdained every other place to kiss.

The cause of glory, so reward every kisser.

لأَغرَّ من عُلْيا بَجيلةَ ماجدٍ

لأَغرَّ من عُلْيا بَجيلةَ ماجدٍ

بادي المَهابةِ في النُّفوسِ مُبَجَّل

بادي المَهابةِ في النُّفوسِ مُبَجَّل

An illustrious nobleman from the highest ranks of Bajila,

I boast about Ulya the majestic abode of the glorious Maajid

his majesty manifest, revered in people's souls.

Whose awe is hidden in souls, revered.

خَضِلُ الأنامل ما تَزالُ يَمينُه

خَضِلُ الأنامل ما تَزالُ يَمينُه

مَوصولةً بتَطاوُلٍ وتَطَوُّل

مَوصولةً بتَطاوُلٍ وتَطَوُّل

Moist-fingered, his right hand is ever

Smooth are the fingers, his hand still

joined to towering distinction and lavish giving.

Connected with height and lengthening.

يَعْفو عنِ الجاني وإن لم يَعتَذِرْ

يَعْفو عنِ الجاني وإن لم يَعتَذِرْ

ويَجودُ للعافي وإنْ لم يُسأَل

ويَجودُ للعافي وإنْ لم يُسأَل

He pardons the offender, even without an apology,

He forgives the sinner even if he does not apologize

and gives generously to the petitioner, even when unasked.

And is generous to the healthy even if he is not asked.

ويُشنِّفُ الأسماعَ بارعُ مَنطِقٍ

ويُشنِّفُ الأسماعَ بارعُ مَنطِقٍ

يَثْني زِمامَ الرّاكبِ المُستَعْجِل

يَثْني زِمامَ الرّاكبِ المُستَعْجِل

His exquisite speech adorns listeners' ears,

He comforts the ears, eloquent in speech,

turning back the reins of the rider in haste.

That holds back the bridle of the impatient rider.

لَفَظ اللآلئَ منه زاخِرُ صَدره

لَفَظ اللآلئَ منه زاخِرُ صَدره

والدُّرُّ يعدَمُ في مَضيقِ الجَدول

والدُّرُّ يعدَمُ في مَضيقِ الجَدول

His brimming breast cast forth pearls;

From him, pearls overflow from his ample chest,

pearls are not found in a narrow brook.

While pearls are scarce in the narrow stream.

وعَجبْتُ من قلَمٍ بكفِّكِ كيف لم

وعَجبْتُ من قلَمٍ بكفِّكِ كيف لم

يُورِقْ بأدْنى لَمْسِ تلك الأنْمُل

يُورِقْ بأدْنى لَمْسِ تلك الأنْمُل

I marveled at a pen in your hand: how did it not

I am amazed by a pen in your hand, how

put forth leaves at the slightest touch of those fingertips?

It did not flourish with the slightest touch of those fingers.

ما بينَ طَبْعٍ مثلِ ماءٍ قاطرٍ

ما بينَ طَبْعٍ مثلِ ماءٍ قاطرٍ

جَرْياً وذهْنٍ كالحريقِ المُشْعَل

جَرْياً وذهْنٍ كالحريقِ المُشْعَل

You combine a nature like dripping water

What is between a nature like pouring rain,

in its flow with a mind like a blazing fire;

Flowing, and a mind like blazing fire,

وتَقاوُمُ الضِّدَّيْنِ في جسمٍ معاً

وتَقاوُمُ الضِّدَّيْنِ في جسمٍ معاً

سَبَبُ البقاء على المِزاجِ الأعْدل

سَبَبُ البقاء على المِزاجِ الأعْدل

and the counterpoise of two opposites in one body

And resisting two opposites in one body

ensures endurance in the most balanced temperament.

Is the cause of survival in the most equitable temperament.

لك عن حِماكَ دفاعُ لَيْثٍ مُشبِلٍ

لك عن حِماكَ دفاعُ لَيْثٍ مُشبِلٍ

ولِمَنْ رجَاك قطارُ غَيْثٍ مُسْبِل

ولِمَنْ رجَاك قطارُ غَيْثٍ مُسْبِل

To guard your domain, you have the defense of a lion with cubs;

For your protection is the defense of a twisting lion

and for those who hope in you, showers of pouring rain.

And whoever hopes for you has copious rain.

فأعِنْ على حَربِ الدُّهورِ مُؤازِراً

فأعِنْ على حَربِ الدُّهورِ مُؤازِراً

فلقد أنخْنَ على الكرامِ بِكَلْكَل

فلقد أنخْنَ على الكرامِ بِكَلْكَل

So lend your support in the war against the ages,

So help me in the war against the ages

for they have knelt on the noble, pressing down with their chests.

For it has chimed against the generous with tinkling.

فتَنٌ علا فيها الزّمانُ بعُصْبَةٍ

فتَنٌ علا فيها الزّمانُ بعُصْبَةٍ

وسيَرجعونَ إلى الحَضيض فأمْهل

وسيَرجعونَ إلى الحَضيض فأمْهل

Turmoils in which time has raised a faction high;

Strife rose in which the time united with a band

they will return to the depths, so give them time.

And they will return to the lowliest so wait.

وإذا انتَهى مَجْرَى الخُيولِ وكُفَّ من

وإذا انتَهى مَجْرَى الخُيولِ وكُفَّ من

غُلَوائها انحَطَّ القَتامُ المُعْتلَي

غُلَوائها انحَطَّ القَتامُ المُعْتلَي

And when the horses' course ends and some

And when the course of horses ends and their

of their headlong ardor is checked, the mounting dust subsides.

Madness ceases, the lofty rider dismounts.

أصبحْتَ للعلياء أكرمَ خاطِبٍ

أصبحْتَ للعلياء أكرمَ خاطِبٍ

وذُراكَ في اللأواءِ أمنَعُ مَعْقِل

وذُراكَ في اللأواءِ أمنَعُ مَعْقِل

You have become the noblest suitor for high honor,

You have become for the noble ones the most generous suitor

and your lofty refuge in hardship the most impregnable stronghold.

And your homes in banners are the strongest refuge.

غَوْثُ الأفاضلِ في زمانِ أراذِلٍ

غَوْثُ الأفاضلِ في زمانِ أراذِلٍ

فكأنّه عَلَمٌ أُقيمَ بمَجْهَل

فكأنّه عَلَمٌ أُقيمَ بمَجْهَل

A rescuer of the worthy in an age of the base,

Succor of the virtuous in an age of scoundrels

he is like a landmark erected in unknown wilderness.

As if it is a flag raised in ignorance.

فامْنُنْ عليّ بفَضْلِ جاهِك إنّه

فامْنُنْ عليّ بفَضْلِ جاهِك إنّه

قَمِنٌ بإطْلاعِ الحُقوقِ الأُفَّل

قَمِنٌ بإطْلاعِ الحُقوقِ الأُفَّل

So bestow on me the favor of your standing, for it

So favor me with your glorious position, it is

can make rights that have set rise again.

A shield, made aware of neglected rights.

فقدِ امتُحِنْتُ معُ العُداةِ بمَنْزلٍ

فقدِ امتُحِنْتُ معُ العُداةِ بمَنْزلٍ

لا مُمكِنِ المَثْوَى ولا المُتَحوَّل

لا مُمكِنِ المَثْوَى ولا المُتَحوَّل

For I have been tried, among enemies, by a dwelling

For I was tested with the enemies in a position

that permits neither staying nor moving away.

Neither inhabitable dwelling nor transferable.

في عُصبةٍ هَجَروا النّدى فديارُهمْ

في عُصبةٍ هَجَروا النّدى فديارُهمْ

للطّارقينَ قليلةُ المُتَعلَّل

للطّارقينَ قليلةُ المُتَعلَّل

Among a band who forsook generosity, whose homes

In a band who abandoned cordiality so their homes

hold little sustenance for those who knock at night.

Have little access for visitors.

بَعُدَتْ طرائقُهْم وقَلَّ سائلي

بَعُدَتْ طرائقُهْم وقَلَّ سائلي

وعِلاجُ غَوْرِ الماء وَصْلُ الأحْبُل

وعِلاجُ غَوْرِ الماء وَصْلُ الأحْبُل

Their paths have grown remote, and few ask after me;

Their roads grew distant and few are my questioners,

when water sinks deep, the remedy is to join the ropes.

And mending the water's depth and rope tying.

فاشفَعْ إلى كرمِ الصَّفيِّ فإنّه

فاشفَعْ إلى كرمِ الصَّفيِّ فإنّه

بيدَيْكَ مِفتاحُ النّجاح المُقْفَل

بيدَيْكَ مِفتاحُ النّجاح المُقْفَل

So intercede with al-Safi's generosity, for

So intercede to the generosity of the pure one, for

in your hands is the key to success now locked shut.

In your hands is the key to the locked success.

فَهو الّذي أَضحَتْ مَواهبُ كفِّه

فَهو الّذي أَضحَتْ مَواهبُ كفِّه

كالشّمسِ إن يُشْرِقْ سَناها يَشْمَل

كالشّمسِ إن يُشْرِقْ سَناها يَشْمَل

For he is the one whose hand's gifts have become

For it is he whose gifts of palm

like the sun: when its radiance shines, it embraces all.

Are like the sun, brightening when it rises, inclusive.

لا غَرْوَ إن صدَقَتْ ظُنوني بَعدَما

لا غَرْوَ إن صدَقَتْ ظُنوني بَعدَما

عَلِقَتْ يدي بالفاضلِ المُتفَضَّل

عَلِقَتْ يدي بالفاضلِ المُتفَضَّل

No wonder if my expectations prove true, now that

No wonder if my hopes prove true after

my hand has clung to the virtuous benefactor.

My hand held to the exceptional, generous one.

فأجِبْ وإن صَمَّ اللّئامُ فإنّما

فأجِبْ وإن صَمَّ اللّئامُ فإنّما

حُمِد القِرىَ في كُلِّ عامٍ مُمحِل

حُمِد القِرىَ في كُلِّ عامٍ مُمحِل

So answer, though the base turn deaf; for

So respond even if the vile are silent, for

hospitality wins praise in every drought-stricken year.

The valleys are praised in each populated year.

وتَهنَّ عيداً مُقْبلاً وافاك بالنْ

وتَهنَّ عيداً مُقْبلاً وافاك بالنْ

نُعْمَى وعشْ في ظلِّ جَدٍّ مُقْبِل

نُعْمَى وعشْ في ظلِّ جَدٍّ مُقْبِل

And enjoy an approaching festival that has come to you with

And have a happy upcoming feast, and may you be granted the

blessing, and live beneath the shade of favorable fortune.

Blessings, and live in the shade of an upcoming ancestor.