يا سَعدُ إِنَّكَ قَد حَجَبتَ ثَلاثَةً

يا سَعدُ إِنَّكَ قَد حَجَبتَ ثَلاثَةً

كُلٌّ عَلَيهِ مِنكَ وَشمٌ لائِحُ

كُلٌّ عَلَيهِ مِنكَ وَشمٌ لائِحُ

O Sa'd, you have indeed served as chamberlain to three.

O Saad, you have veiled three,

Each bears a visible tattoo of your making.

Each bearing your manifest brand.

وَأَراكَ تَخدِمَ رابِعاً لِتُبيدَهُ

وَأَراكَ تَخدِمَ رابِعاً لِتُبيدَهُ

فَارفُق بِهِ فَالشَيخُ شَيخٌ صالِحُ

فَارفُق بِهِ فَالشَيخُ شَيخٌ صالِحُ

And I see you serving a fourth to destroy him.

Yet I see you serve a fourth to slay him -

So be gentle with him, for the old man is a worthy elder.

Have mercy, for the Sheikh's a righteous elder.

يا حاجِبَ الوُزَراءِ إِنَّكَ عِندَهُم

يا حاجِبَ الوُزَراءِ إِنَّكَ عِندَهُم

سَعدٌ وَلَكِن أَنتَ سَعدُ الذابِحُ

سَعدٌ وَلَكِن أَنتَ سَعدُ الذابِحُ

O chamberlain of ministers, in their eyes you are

O veil of ministers, with them you are

good fortune—but you are Sa'd the Slaughterer.

Saad, but for others, Saad the butcher.