أمْنعُ الأحياءِ بأساً وحِمىً

أمْنعُ الأحياءِ بأساً وحِمىً

وأجَلُّ القومِ مسْعىً ونِجارا

وأجَلُّ القومِ مسْعىً ونِجارا

Of all the living, the most unassailable in might and protected domain,

Most formidable of the living in might and protection,

and the noblest of the people in endeavor and lineage.

And noblest of the people in endeavor and lineage.

ذُخرُه الحمدُ اذا ما غَيْرُهُ

ذُخرُه الحمدُ اذا ما غَيْرُهُ

جعلَ الذُّخْرَ لُجَيْناً ونُضارا

جعلَ الذُّخْرَ لُجَيْناً ونُضارا

His treasure is praise, while any other man

His treasure is praise, while another

makes silver and gold his treasure.

Makes silver and gold his treasure.

يفضلُ السُّحْبَ نوالاً وندىً

يفضلُ السُّحْبَ نوالاً وندىً

ويفوقُ الشمس ذكْراً واشْتهاراً

ويفوقُ الشمس ذكْراً واشْتهاراً

He surpasses the rainclouds in giving and bounty,

He surpasses the clouds in bounty and generosity,

and outstrips the sun in renown and fame.

And surpasses the sun in renown and fame.

تلْتقي منهُ شُجاعاً فَرِقاً

تلْتقي منهُ شُجاعاً فَرِقاً

يرهَبُ العارَ ولا يخشى الخِطارا

يرهَبُ العارَ ولا يخشى الخِطارا

In him you meet a brave man who is fearful:

You find in him a brave yet fearful man:

he fears disgrace, but does not fear perils.

He dreads disgrace, but does not fear peril.

نارُ بأسٍ فاذا نادمْتَه

نارُ بأسٍ فاذا نادمْتَه

كان سلْسالَ بَرودٍ أو عُقارا

كان سلْسالَ بَرودٍ أو عُقارا

A fire of martial might—but when you sit with him over wine,

A fire of martial might—yet when you drink with him,

he is cool, flowing water—or wine itself.

He becomes a flowing stream of cool water, or wine.

وأنيسٌ بالعُلى مُسْترسلٌ

وأنيسٌ بالعُلى مُسْترسلٌ

فاذا العارُ دَنا كانَ نَوارا

فاذا العارُ دَنا كانَ نَوارا

At home among lofty honors, moving there at ease;

And at home with lofty honor, unreserved;

yet when disgrace draws near, he shies away.

But when disgrace draws near, he recoils.

شرفُ الدين الذي في مَهْدهِ

شرفُ الدين الذي في مَهْدهِ

حازَ اشْتاتَ المعالي والفَخارا

حازَ اشْتاتَ المعالي والفَخارا

Sharaf al-Din, who, while still in his cradle,

Sharaf al-Din, who in his cradle

gathered the scattered heights of excellence and pride.

Attained manifold honors and glory.

يُتَّقى هاجِسهُ في سُخْطهِ

يُتَّقى هاجِسهُ في سُخْطهِ

ويُرى الموتَ صريحاً اِنْ أشارا

ويُرى الموتَ صريحاً اِنْ أشارا

The very impulse of his anger is feared,

His passing thought is feared in his wrath,

and death is seen plainly if he merely gestures.

And death is plainly seen if he gives a sign.