هو في ناديه طوْدٌ راسِخٌ

هو في ناديه طوْدٌ راسِخٌ

فاذا خاضَ وغىً كانَ حُساما

فاذا خاضَ وغىً كانَ حُساما

In his assembly, he is a firmly rooted mountain.

He is steadfast and resolute in his principles

But when he plunges into battle, he becomes a sharp sword.

Whenever he enters into battle, he is a sharp sword

يُشْرِقُ المجدُ على أعْطافهِ

يُشْرِقُ المجدُ على أعْطافهِ

لمعانَ الشمس تستغشي الغَماما

لمعانَ الشمس تستغشي الغَماما

Glory shines upon his shoulders,

Glory shines upon his shoulders

With the sun's brilliance as it cloaks itself in clouds.

The gleam of the sun dims the clouds

نارُ بأسٍ فاذا سالمْتهُ

نارُ بأسٍ فاذا سالمْتهُ

عادَ ذاكَ الوْقدُ برداً وسَلاما

عادَ ذاكَ الوْقدُ برداً وسَلاما

He is a fire of valor; yet when you make peace with him,

A fire of valor—when you greet him with peace

That blaze becomes coolness and peace.

That blaze returns as coolness and peace

بِشرهُ المشفوعُ منه بالنَّدى

بِشرهُ المشفوعُ منه بالنَّدى

يكشفُ اللَّيلينِ حَظّاً وظَلاما

يكشفُ اللَّيلينِ حَظّاً وظَلاما

His cheerfulness, coupled with his bounty,

Give him good news, scented with dew

Dispels the twin nights of ill fortune and darkness.

He reveals the two nights' fortune and darkness

يأرَجُ الدْهرُ بِرَيَّا نشْرهِ

يأرَجُ الدْهرُ بِرَيَّا نشْرهِ

فيفوقُ الحمدُ أنفاسَ الخُزامى

فيفوقُ الحمدُ أنفاسَ الخُزامى

The age is fragrant with the perfume of his renown,

Time neighs with the scattering of his opinions

So praise surpasses the breaths of lavender.

So praise surpasses the breaths of pine trees

يكْفهِرُّ الخطبُ في سورْتهِ

يكْفهِرُّ الخطبُ في سورْتهِ

فيفلُّ الخطْبَ طَرداً وابتساما

فيفلُّ الخطْبَ طَرداً وابتساما

Calamity scowls in its fury,

Events thunder in his sorrows

Then he breaks calamity, driving it off with a smile.

So events retreat, rebuffed, with a smile

ويعيشُ الثَّبْتُ في حَبْوتهِ

ويعيشُ الثَّبْتُ في حَبْوتهِ

فتُلاقيهِ ثبيراً وشَماما

فتُلاقيهِ ثبيراً وشَماما

And the steadfast man lives seated, knees clasped,

And certainty lives in his care

So you encounter him as Thabir and Shamam.

So you find it rising and towering

شرفُ الدينِ سَحابٌ ساكبٌ

شرفُ الدينِ سَحابٌ ساكبٌ

حين يُمسي العارضُ الجوْن جهاما

حين يُمسي العارضُ الجوْن جهاما

Sharaf al-Din is a rain-pouring cloud,

The honor of religion is a pouring cloud

When the dark cloud becomes rainless.

When the expert of war makes the heat zealous

أوحَدُ الأيام في مفْخرهِ

أوحَدُ الأيام في مفْخرهِ

فاذا استصرختهُ كانَ لُهاما

فاذا استصرختهُ كانَ لُهاما

The age's peerless one in his glory,

Unique of the days in his pride

And when you call to him for aid, he becomes a mighty host.

If you cry out to him, he is ferocious

لم يزلْ سَمّاً ذُعافاً في العدى

لم يزلْ سَمّاً ذُعافاً في العدى

ولمَنْ والاهُ ماءً ومُداما

ولمَنْ والاهُ ماءً ومُداما

He has ever been swiftly lethal poison to his foes,

He has not ceased to be high and lofty in animosity

And water and wine to whoever befriends him.

And for whoever takes his side, water and wine

يا مُعِزِّ الدولةِ اسمعْ غُرَراً

يا مُعِزِّ الدولةِ اسمعْ غُرَراً

أحسنتْ منكَ مَديحاً ونِظاما

أحسنتْ منكَ مَديحاً ونِظاما

O Mu'izz al-Dawla, hear these radiant verses,

O supporter of the state, listen to delights

That excel in praise of you and in their composition.

You have done better in praise and composition

قادها الودُّ بأسبابِ النُّهى

قادها الودُّ بأسبابِ النُّهى

لمحلٍّ جَلَّ قَدْراً ومَقاماً

لمحلٍّ جَلَّ قَدْراً ومَقاماً

Affection led them by the cords of reason

Passion led them by the means of censure

To a station exalted in worth and rank.

To a place high in worth and position