لِأَنَّهُ الغايَةُ القُصوى الَّتي عَجَزَت

لِأَنَّهُ الغايَةُ القُصوى الَّتي عَجَزَت

عَن أَن تُؤَمِّل إِدراكاً لَها الهِمَمُ

عَن أَن تُؤَمِّل إِدراكاً لَها الهِمَمُ

For he is the ultimate goal, which lies beyond

For it is the ultimate goal that ambitions

What lofty aspirations can even hope to attain.

Have failed to hope of attaining it fully

ما تَستَحِقُ مُلوكُ الدَهرِ مَرتَبَةً

ما تَستَحِقُ مُلوكُ الدَهرِ مَرتَبَةً

في الفَضلِ إِلّا لَهُ مِن فَوقِها قَدَمُ

في الفَضلِ إِلّا لَهُ مِن فَوقِها قَدَمُ

The kings of the age merit no rank

No kings of time deserve any rank

In excellence without his foot being above it.

In virtue, but above it his steps ascend

ذَكاؤُهُ إِن دَجا لَيلُ الشُكوكِ ضحى

ذَكاؤُهُ إِن دَجا لَيلُ الشُكوكِ ضحى

وَظِلُّهُ إِن خَطا صَرفُ الرَدى حَرمُ

وَظِلُّهُ إِن خَطا صَرفُ الرَدى حَرمُ

His intelligence, when the night of doubts grows dark, is morning light;

His intellect, though night of doubts grew dim, dawns

And his shade, when death’s calamity advances, is a sanctuary.

And his shade, though course of calamities erred, is inviolable

فَلَو عَدا الكَرمُ المَوصوفُ راحَتَهُ

فَلَو عَدا الكَرمُ المَوصوفُ راحَتَهُ

عَن أَن يُجاوِزها لَم يُكرم الكَرَمُ

عَن أَن يُجاوِزها لَم يُكرم الكَرَمُ

So if celebrated generosity passed beyond his palm,

So if described generosity left at rest

Generosity would gain no honor from surpassing it.

Its rights, Generosity would not be generous