شرفُ الدولةِ بحرٌ زاخِرْ

شرفُ الدولةِ بحرٌ زاخِرْ

وهِزبرٌ كلما صالَ هَصَرْ

وهِزبرٌ كلما صالَ هَصَرْ

Sharaf al-Dawla is a surging sea,

The glory of the state is a fecund sea

and a lion: whenever he charges, he crushes.

And a party whenever it is victorious

يُمسكُ الغَيْثُ ومن راحَتهِ

يُمسكُ الغَيْثُ ومن راحَتهِ

صَيِّبُ المعروف في المَحْل دررْ

صَيِّبُ المعروف في المَحْل دررْ

Rain holds back, yet from his palm

It holds back the rain, and in its comfort

a shower of kindness falls as pearls in drought.

The good pours forth in that place like pearls

وإذا يُسْألُ مَنْ فارسُها

وإذا يُسْألُ مَنْ فارسُها

يومَ تحطيم القنا قِيلَ عُمَرْ

يومَ تحطيم القنا قِيلَ عُمَرْ

And when it is asked, 'Who is its champion?'

And if asked who was its knight

on the day spears are shattered, the answer is 'Umar.'

On the day of crushing defeat, it was said Omar

مَلكِ بَرٌّ بمنْ يَسألُه

مَلكِ بَرٌّ بمنْ يَسألُه

وهو بالمُذنب ذي الجُرم أبَرْ

وهو بالمُذنب ذي الجُرم أبَرْ

A king, kind to whoever asks of him,

A righteous king to those who ask him

and he is kinder still to the sinner guilty of wrongdoing.

And he is gentle to the guilty, the sinner

لا يَحُلُّ الجهْلُ من حَبْوتِه

لا يَحُلُّ الجهْلُ من حَبْوتِه

كلما ناوشهُ الخطبُ وقَرْ

كلما ناوشهُ الخطبُ وقَرْ

Folly never loosens the wrap about his knees;

Ignorance cannot seize his resolve

whenever adversity assails him, he stays composed.

Whenever worries and sorrows bite

خَشن النَّجدةِ لا كِبْرٌ به

خَشن النَّجدةِ لا كِبْرٌ به

لينُ الملمسٍ من غيرِ خُوَرْ

لينُ الملمسٍ من غيرِ خُوَرْ

Fierce in valor, with no arrogance in him,

Rough of composition without conceit

soft to the touch, without weakness.

Gentle of touch without decay

لا أهَنِّيهِ بتجْديدِ عُلاً

لا أهَنِّيهِ بتجْديدِ عُلاً

كل فخر بعُلاهُ يَفْتَخِرْ

كل فخر بعُلاهُ يَفْتَخِرْ

I do not congratulate him on renewed glory:

I do not congratulate him on renewing glory

every honor takes pride in his eminence.

All pride in its glory boasts