ويا ربِّ إِن جازيْت بالخير محسناً

ويا ربِّ إِن جازيْت بالخير محسناً

فجازِ وزير الخير والفضل أحمَدا

فجازِ وزير الخير والفضل أحمَدا

And O Lord, if You reward a doer of good with goodness,

O Lord, if You reward the benevolent with good

then reward Ahmad, the minister of goodness and virtue,

Then reward the minister of goodness and kindness, Ahmed

أبا جعفرٍ ما لاحَ نجمٌ وما بَدا

أبا جعفرٍ ما لاحَ نجمٌ وما بَدا

صباحٌ وما غَنَّى الحَمامُ وغَرَّدا

صباحٌ وما غَنَّى الحَمامُ وغَرَّدا

Abu Jaʿfar, as long as a star shines and there appears

Abu Ja'far, no star has risen or dawned

a dawn, and as long as doves sing and warble.

Nor has a dove sung or chirped

فثَمَّ الحمى المرهوبُ إِن أُسلم الحمى

فثَمَّ الحمى المرهوبُ إِن أُسلم الحمى

وثمَّ النَّدى المسكوبِ إن حُبِس النَّدى

وثمَّ النَّدى المسكوبِ إن حُبِس النَّدى

For there is the sanctuary held in awe, if sanctuary is forsaken,

In the severe fever, if the fever is avoided

and there is bounty poured forth, if bounty is withheld.

And in the pouring dew, if the dew is withheld

إذا جئتهُ لاقيتَ أوْرَقَ شامخاً

إذا جئتهُ لاقيتَ أوْرَقَ شامخاً

وأبيضَ هِنْدياً وأخضر مُزْبِدا

وأبيضَ هِنْدياً وأخضر مُزْبِدا

If you come to him, you meet a towering gray mountain,

When you come to him, you will find him lofty and magnificent

and a white Indian sword and a green, foaming sea,

An Indian orchid, green and full of flowers

ونشْوانَ ما دارتْ عليه مُدامَةٌ

ونشْوانَ ما دارتْ عليه مُدامَةٌ

ولكن عُلاً بَيْسانَ فاقت وصَرْخدا

ولكن عُلاً بَيْسانَ فاقت وصَرْخدا

and one intoxicated, though no wine has been passed round to him,

With soft hair that no comb has touched

but by lofty glory surpassing Baysan and Sarkhad.

But he is most eminent, surpassing the narcissus and citron

طليقُ مُحَيَّاً عند مُطْلَق راحَةٍ

طليقُ مُحَيَّاً عند مُطْلَق راحَةٍ

يُبيحانِ عافي فضله البِشر والجَدا

يُبيحانِ عافي فضله البِشر والجَدا

A cheerful face beside an open palm—

Free and lively in absolute comfort

the two grant the seeker of his bounty good cheer and gifts.

Permitting the created to enjoy his overflowing grace

إذا ما استَقلَّ العُذْرُ عند نَوالهِ

إذا ما استَقلَّ العُذْرُ عند نَوالهِ

وإِن كان جمّاً زادَ فيه التَّوَدُّدا

وإِن كان جمّاً زادَ فيه التَّوَدُّدا

When an apology seems scant beside his bounty,

When excuses are inadequate before his generosity

though it be abundant, he adds affection to it.

And though ample, his affection increases

كأنَّ مجنَّ الشمس في رونق الضُّحى

كأنَّ مجنَّ الشمس في رونق الضُّحى

مُحيَّاه في يوم السَّلامِ إذا انْتَدى

مُحيَّاه في يوم السَّلامِ إذا انْتَدى

As though the sun's shield, in the splendor of midmorning,

As though the sun at dawn smiles through the beauty of morning

were his face on the day of greetings, when he sits in assembly.

Reviving him on the day of peace when it rises

يذلُّ الخميسُ المَجْر من غُلَوائه

يذلُّ الخميسُ المَجْر من غُلَوائه

وإِنْ كان للرائين فَرْداً مُوَحَّدا

وإِنْ كان للرائين فَرْداً مُوَحَّدا

A vast army quails at his fierce vigor,

The fifth day humbles the overbearing Thursday

even though, to onlookers, he is alone, all by himself.

Though unique to beholders, unified

فدامَ مُطاع الأمر يُرجى ويُتَّقى

فدامَ مُطاع الأمر يُرجى ويُتَّقى

يصرِّفُ أحوال المكارم والرَّدى

يصرِّفُ أحوال المكارم والرَّدى

So may he endure, obeyed in command, looked to with hope and feared,

May the obeyed authority last, hoped for and feared

governing the course of noble generosity and death.

Directing the states of virtues and vices