ألا فابشروا يا قوم ان الوغى الكبرى

ألا فابشروا يا قوم ان الوغى الكبرى

خبَت وكفينا من تسعرُّها الشَّرا

خبَت وكفينا من تسعرُّها الشَّرا

Listen, rejoice, my people: the great war

Rejoice, O people, for the great turmoil

Has died down, and we have been spared the evil of its raging.

Has subsided, and we have had our fill of its heat.

خبت نارهُا والحمد لله بعدما

خبت نارهُا والحمد لله بعدما

ذكت ولظاها أحرق البرَّ والبحرا

ذكت ولظاها أحرق البرَّ والبحرا

Its fire has died down—praise be to God—after

Its fire has died down, praise be to God, after

It blazed, and its flames burned land and sea.

It blazed and scorched the land and the sea.

وقد وضعت اوزارها بعد ما طغت

وقد وضعت اوزارها بعد ما طغت

وسجَّلت الدنيا على المعتدي الوزرا

وسجَّلت الدنيا على المعتدي الوزرا

And it has laid down its burdens after running rampant,

It has cast off its burdens after raging,

And the world has recorded the aggressor's guilt.

And the world has recorded the guilt of the aggressor.

تقلص عن وجه البسيطة ظلها

تقلص عن وجه البسيطة ظلها

وكان عليه ظلها باسطاً سترا

وكان عليه ظلها باسطاً سترا

Its shadow withdrew from the face of the earth,

Its shadow has contracted from the face of the earth,

Over which that shadow had spread a covering veil.

Though it had spread its shadow over it like a canopy.

وبعد تمادي ليلها لاح فجرهُ

وبعد تمادي ليلها لاح فجرهُ

وكنا ظننا أنه عدمَ الفجرا

وكنا ظننا أنه عدمَ الفجرا

And after its night dragged on, its dawn appeared,

And after the prolonging of its night, its dawn appeared,

Though we had thought it lacked a dawn.

When we thought there would never be a dawn.

قضينا بها خمسين شهراً نعدُّها

قضينا بها خمسين شهراً نعدُّها

وشهراً وكنا اليومَ نحسبه شهرا

وشهراً وكنا اليومَ نحسبه شهرا

We spent fifty months in it, counting them,

We spent fifty months counting them

And one more month; we reckoned each day a month.

As a month, and counted each day as a month,

وكنا نعد الشهرَ اطول من سني ال

وكنا نعد الشهرَ اطول من سني ال

مجاعةِ بل كنا نرى عامها دهرا

مجاعةِ بل كنا نرى عامها دهرا

And we reckoned a month longer than the years of

And counted a month longer than the years

Famine; indeed, we thought a year of it an age.

Of famine. Indeed, we saw each of its years as an epoch.

وفيها اصاب الكون ما إِنّ وصفهُ

وفيها اصاب الكون ما إِنّ وصفهُ

ليستنفدُ الاقلامَ والصحفَ والحبرا

ليستنفدُ الاقلامَ والصحفَ والحبرا

And during it the world suffered things whose description

In it, what befell the world cannot be described -

Would surely exhaust pens, pages, and ink.

Pens, pages, and ink would be exhausted in the attempt.

وقد مرَّ إلمامي به غير مرةٍ

وقد مرَّ إلمامي به غير مرةٍ

فلست بمستحلٍ إعادة ما مرا

فلست بمستحلٍ إعادة ما مرا

I have already touched upon this more than once,

The scourges that afflicted me have passed by more than once,

So I do not relish repeating what has gone before.

So I will not repeat what has already passed.

شعرتُ بما قاسي الورى من شرورها

شعرتُ بما قاسي الورى من شرورها

شعوراً بدا لي أن أمثله شعرا

شعوراً بدا لي أن أمثله شعرا

I felt what mankind endured from its evils,

I felt what the world suffered of its evils

A feeling I thought to embody in verse.

With a feeling that seemed to me like poetry.

أجبتُ به نفسي على الفور إذ دعت

أجبتُ به نفسي على الفور إذ دعت

ولبيتها لم اعصِ فيها لها أمرا

ولبيتها لم اعصِ فيها لها أمرا

I answered my soul with it at once when it called,

I immediately responded when my soul called,

And heeded it, disobeying none of its commands in this.

And did not disobey its command.

واودعت وصفَ الحرب هذي القصائد ال

واودعت وصفَ الحرب هذي القصائد ال

لتي اجتزأت باللبِّ لم تحتوِ القشرا

لتي اجتزأت باللبِّ لم تحتوِ القشرا

And I placed the account of the war in these poems,

I deposited the description of this war in these poems

Which took only the kernel and contained no husk.

That were heartfelt, not superficial.

وأعددتها للطبع لما أن انطوت

وأعددتها للطبع لما أن انطوت

على ما استحقَّ الطبع واستأهل النشرا

على ما استحقَّ الطبع واستأهل النشرا

I prepared them for printing when they contained

I prepared them for printing when they

What deserved printing and merited publication.

Contained what deserved printing and publication.

وقد بدئت بالحرب والآن تنتهي

وقد بدئت بالحرب والآن تنتهي

بذكر النجا منها وتختم بالبشر

بذكر النجا منها وتختم بالبشر

They began with the war, and now they end

I began with the war and now end

By recalling deliverance from it, and closing with joy:

With mentioning deliverance from it and conclude with good tidings.

ببشرى رآها المسك إذ ضاع نشرها

ببشرى رآها المسك إذ ضاع نشرها

على طيبه تسمو وتفضله نشرا

على طيبه تسمو وتفضله نشرا

With good news that musk, as its fragrance wafted, saw

News that musk would be diminished if diffused

Rising above its own perfume and surpassing it in scent.

Over its fragrance, so exalted and superior is its diffusion.

ولو انها بيعت وأُرخص سعرها

ولو انها بيعت وأُرخص سعرها

لكانت بأغلى مهجةس في الورى تشرى

لكانت بأغلى مهجةس في الورى تشرى

And if it were sold, even with its price reduced,

Were it sold, its price would be higher

It would be bought for the dearest soul among mankind.

Than the most precious perfumes of the world.

خلاصتها أن الوغى قُل نعشها

خلاصتها أن الوغى قُل نعشها

والمانيا عضَّت اناملها العشرا

والمانيا عضَّت اناملها العشرا

Its gist is that war's bier has been borne away,

The gist is that the turmoil - say that its bier

And Germany has bitten all ten of her fingertips;

Has passed - and Germany has gnawed its fingers in regret.

وان يدَ البغي التي امتد شرُّها

وان يدَ البغي التي امتد شرُّها

وطالت عراها القصر بل كسِرت كسرا

وطالت عراها القصر بل كسِرت كسرا

And that oppression's hand, whose evil spread far,

The hand of aggression that extended its evil

Has had its long reach curtailed—nay, been utterly broken;

And whose forearms stretched to break and shatter.

وان الذي بالامس علَّل نفسهُ

وان الذي بالامس علَّل نفسهُ

بربحٍ نراهُ اليوم مشتكياً خسرا

بربحٍ نراهُ اليوم مشتكياً خسرا

And that he who yesterday consoled himself

He who yesterday excused himself for profit

With hopes of gain, we see today lamenting loss;

We see today complaining of loss.

وذيالك العُسرَ الذي اشتد ضغطهُ

وذيالك العُسرَ الذي اشتد ضغطهُ

على الناس طرًّ ازال واستمتعوا اليُسرا

على الناس طرًّ ازال واستمتعوا اليُسرا

And that hardship whose pressure weighed heavily

That hardship whose grip tightened

On all people has passed, and they have enjoyed ease.

On the people has relaxed, and they enjoy ease.

فيا حسنها بشرى ملا الارضَ بشرها

فيا حسنها بشرى ملا الارضَ بشرها

وكل امرءٍ في الخافقين بها سُرَّا

وكل امرءٍ في الخافقين بها سُرَّا

How lovely this good news, whose joy filled the earth;

How excellent is the good news that filled the earth with its tidings,

And everyone in East and West rejoiced in it.

And delighted every soul in the horizons!

ولما تهاداها الورى كان فعلها

ولما تهاداها الورى كان فعلها

باذهانهم فعل الرحيق أيِ السكرا

باذهانهم فعل الرحيق أيِ السكرا

When mankind exchanged it as a gift, its effect

When it was circulated, people’s reaction

On their minds was that of pure wine—that is, intoxication.

Was like that of honey - that is, of sugar.

فضجُّوا باصوات الهتاف وعربدوا

فضجُّوا باصوات الهتاف وعربدوا

وجاؤُوا بما أعيا تصوُّره الفكرا

وجاؤُوا بما أعيا تصوُّره الفكرا

So they clamored with cheers and caroused,

They cried out in shouts of joy and elation,

And did things beyond the mind's imagining.

And did what exhausted the imagination.

أقاموا لها الزيناتِ والنَّدواتِ في

أقاموا لها الزيناتِ والنَّدواتِ في

جميع القرى والمدن حافلةً تترى

جميع القرى والمدن حافلةً تترى

They arranged decorations and gatherings in its honor in

They held celebrations and feasts in

All villages and cities, thronged and following in succession.

Every town and village crowded with people.

ولم يدعوا أمراً به يُعربون عن

ولم يدعوا أمراً به يُعربون عن

مسرَّتهم الا أتوا ذلك الامرا

مسرَّتهم الا أتوا ذلك الامرا

They left no means by which to express

They omitted nothing with which to express

Their joy without putting it into practice.

Their joy but came and did it.

وان همُ في بعض الامور تجاوزوا

وان همُ في بعض الامور تجاوزوا

حدود المسرَّات التمسنا لهم عذرا

حدود المسرَّات التمسنا لهم عذرا

And if, in some matters, they exceeded

If in some matters they exceeded

The bounds of rejoicing, we sought an excuse for them.

The limits of joy, we pardoned them.

كفى الناسَ عذراً فيه قول مبشرٍ

كفى الناسَ عذراً فيه قول مبشرٍ

لهم أبشروا قد احرز الحلفا النصرا

لهم أبشروا قد احرز الحلفا النصرا

Sufficient excuse for the people in this was a herald's saying

Sufficient excuse for the people are the words of one

To them: 'Rejoice! The Allies have won victory!'

Who gave them good news: “Rejoice! The allies have won victory.”

فتلكم بشرى لست وصف جمالها

فتلكم بشرى لست وصف جمالها

بموفٍ ولو اني قضيت به العمرا

بموفٍ ولو اني قضيت به العمرا

Such is good news whose beauty I cannot

Such are the tidings I cannot describe their beauty

Do full justice to, even if I spent a lifetime on it.

Even if I spent a lifetime trying.

ولله كم نفسٍ بها يومَ أُعلنت

ولله كم نفسٍ بها يومَ أُعلنت

خلاصتها طابت وكم ناظرٍ قرَّا

خلاصتها طابت وكم ناظرٍ قرَّا

And, by God, how many souls, on the day it was announced,

When its essence was announced, how many a soul

Rejoiced at its message, and how many eyes found comfort!

Rejoiced, and how many an eye delighted!

وكم شنَّقت اذناً وكم برَّدت حشىً

وكم شنَّقت اذناً وكم برَّدت حشىً

وكم ابهجت قلباً وكم شرحت صدرا

وكم ابهجت قلباً وكم شرحت صدرا

How many ears it pricked up, how many bosoms it cooled,

How many an ear became sharp, how many a mind exhilarated,

And how many hearts it gladdened, how many breasts it opened!

How many a heart gladdened, how many a bosom expanded!

وكم بسط الناس الا كفَّ وقدموا

وكم بسط الناس الا كفَّ وقدموا

لخالقهم من اجلها الحمد والشكرا

لخالقهم من اجلها الحمد والشكرا

And how often people spread their palms and offered

How the people clapped hands and offered

Their Creator praise and thanks because of it!

Their Lord praise and thanks on its account!

وبالحلفا خصُّوا جميل ثنائهم

وبالحلفا خصُّوا جميل ثنائهم

وقد عمَّ حتى ما استطاعوا له حصرا

وقد عمَّ حتى ما استطاعوا له حصرا

For the Allies they reserved their finest praise,

They singled out the Allies for the finest praise,

Which spread so widely they could set no bounds to it.

Which spread until they could no longer limit it.

وأما ملايين الضحايا فرحمّوا

وأما ملايين الضحايا فرحمّوا

عليهم وأحيوا بالرثاءِ لهم ذكرا

عليهم وأحيوا بالرثاءِ لهم ذكرا

As for the millions of victims, they prayed for mercy

As for the millions of victims, they had mercy

Upon them, and kept their memory alive through lamentation.

On them and commemorated them with eulogies.

مصائب هذي الحرب عمَّت بنى الورى

مصائب هذي الحرب عمَّت بنى الورى

فلم يبقَ مَن لم يشك من نارها حرَّا

فلم يبقَ مَن لم يشك من نارها حرَّا

The calamities of this war swept over the children of mankind,

The calamities of this war afflicted all humankind,

Leaving none who did not complain of the heat of its fire.

So none remained who did not suffer its heat.

ولكنه قد يُنتج الخيرَ شرُّها

ولكنه قد يُنتج الخيرَ شرُّها

وربَّ مفيد نافعٍ يعقب الضَّرا

وربَّ مفيد نافعٍ يعقب الضَّرا

Yet its evil may produce good,

But its evil may produce good,

And many a helpful, useful thing follows harm.

And great benefit may follow harm.

فان تمَّ ما يسعى له الحلفاءُ في

فان تمَّ ما يسعى له الحلفاءُ في

مجالسهم واستأصلوا للوغى الجذرا

مجالسهم واستأصلوا للوغى الجذرا

So if what the Allies seek is fulfilled in

If what the Allies strive for in

Their councils, and they tear out war's root,

Their councils is achieved, and tyranny uprooted at the root;

وصارت كبار المشكلات باسرها

وصارت كبار المشكلات باسرها

تحال على جمعية الامم الكبرى

تحال على جمعية الامم الكبرى

And all the great problems come to be

If all major issues become

Referred to the great League of Nations,

The concern of the grand League of Nations;

ولم يبقَ خوفٌ من شعوبٍ كبيرةٍ

ولم يبقَ خوفٌ من شعوبٍ كبيرةٍ

تجور على الصغرى وتحكمها قسرا

تجور على الصغرى وتحكمها قسرا

And no fear remains of mighty nations

If there remains no fear of great nations

Oppressing smaller ones and ruling them by force,

Oppressing smaller ones and forcing their rule;

ولم يُهضم الشعبُ الضعيف حقوقه

ولم يُهضم الشعبُ الضعيف حقوقه

وأصبح في الدنيا كما ينبغي حُرَّا

وأصبح في الدنيا كما ينبغي حُرَّا

And the weak nation is not denied its rights,

If the rights of weak peoples are not violated,

And becomes free in the world, as it ought to be—

And all in the world become free as they should be;

اذا تمّ هذا كلهُ والرجاءُ أن

اذا تمّ هذا كلهُ والرجاءُ أن

يتمَّ وعمَّ الخيرُ منه الورى طرَّا

يتمَّ وعمَّ الخيرُ منه الورى طرَّا

If all this comes to pass—and the hope is that

If all this is achieved - and hopefully

It will—and its good embraces all mankind,

It will be, with goodness spreading through the world -

محا إثمَ هذي الحرب عنها ولم ترق

محا إثمَ هذي الحرب عنها ولم ترق

دماءُ الملايين التي سفُكت هدرا

دماءُ الملايين التي سفُكت هدرا

It will wipe the guilt from this war; nor will there have been shed

Then the sin of this war will be erased from it,

In vain the blood of the millions that was spilled.

And the blood of the millions spilled will not have flowed in vain.