قُولوا لِمن قاسمتُهُ ملكَ اليدِ

قُولوا لِمن قاسمتُهُ ملكَ اليدِ

ونهضتُ فيهِ نهضةَ المُستأسِدِ

ونهضتُ فيهِ نهضةَ المُستأسِدِ

Tell him with whom I shared the power in my hand,

Tell the one whose hand I clasped

and rose for him with a lion's fierceness:

And for whom I rose with the vigor of a lion

واقعتُ فيه كلّ أصيدَ مِن ذوي

واقعتُ فيه كلّ أصيدَ مِن ذوي

رَحِمي عريقٍ في العلاءِ مُسوَّدِ

رَحِمي عريقٍ في العلاءِ مُسوَّدِ

For him I fought every proud lord among

I stumbled upon every prey of my family

my kin, deep-rooted in eminence and acknowledged as a chief.

With pure, eminent lineage

لاقيتهم بسنانِ كلِّ مثقّفٍ

لاقيتهم بسنانِ كلِّ مثقّفٍ

صَدقِ الكُعوبِ وحدِّ كلِّ مُهنّدِ

صَدقِ الكُعوبِ وحدِّ كلِّ مُهنّدِ

I met them with the point of every straightened spear,

I met them with the fangs of every cultured one

sound in its joints, and the edge of every Indian blade.

With truthful palms and sharp blade of every polished sword

عاصيتُ فيهِ ذوي الحِجا مِن أُسرتي

عاصيتُ فيهِ ذوي الحِجا مِن أُسرتي

وأطعتُ فيهِ مكارمي وتودُّدي

وأطعتُ فيهِ مكارمي وتودُّدي

For his sake I defied the wise men of my family,

I disobeyed the elders of my family for him

and for his sake obeyed my noble nature and my affection.

And obeyed my generosity and affection for him

يا قاطعَ الرّحِمِ التي صِلتي بها

يا قاطعَ الرّحِمِ التي صِلتي بها

كُتِبت على الفَلكِ الأثيرِ بعسجدِ

كُتِبت على الفَلكِ الأثيرِ بعسجدِ

O you who sever the kinship whose bond with me

O you who severed the womb-ties that bound me

was inscribed upon the ethereal sphere in gold:

Inscribed in the celestial sphere with knotting

سدّدتَ نحوي بالعتابِ مقالةً

سدّدتَ نحوي بالعتابِ مقالةً

جاءت كسهمٍ للنِّضالِ مُسدَّدِ

جاءت كسهمٍ للنِّضالِ مُسدَّدِ

You aimed an utterance of reproach toward me

You directed at me words of reproach

that came like an arrow aimed for an archery contest.

That came like arrows aiming at struggle

أتقولُ فيَّ مقالةً لكَ جُزؤها

أتقولُ فيَّ مقالةً لكَ جُزؤها

ان أنصفت أو كلُّها ان تَعتدِ

ان أنصفت أو كلُّها ان تَعتدِ

Do you speak against me a reproach that is partly yours,

Do you speak words about me, whose entirety

if you are fair, or wholly yours if you transgress?

Is justice if appraised, and aggression if assumed

ان كنتَ تقدحُ في صريحِ مناسبي

ان كنتَ تقدحُ في صريحِ مناسبي

فاصبِر بعرضِكَ للّهيبِ المَوصدِ

فاصبِر بعرضِكَ للّهيبِ المَوصدِ

If you cast aspersions on my pure lineage,

If you defame my honest kinsmen

then let your own honor endure the sealed-in blaze.

Then be patient, for your honor will surely burn

عَمِّي أبوكَ ووالدي عمٌّ بهِ

عَمِّي أبوكَ ووالدي عمٌّ بهِ

يعلو انتسابُكَ كلَّ ملكٍ أصيدِ

يعلو انتسابُكَ كلَّ ملكٍ أصيدِ

Your father is my uncle, and my father an uncle through whom

My uncle is your father, and my father your uncle

your lineage rises above every proud king.

Your ancestry surpasses that of every noble born

صالا وجالا كالأُسودِ ضوارياً

صالا وجالا كالأُسودِ ضوارياً

وأزيزِ تيّارِ الفُراتِ المُزبِدِ

وأزيزِ تيّارِ الفُراتِ المُزبِدِ

The two charged and wheeled like ravening lions,

Courageous and magnificent like lions prowling

and the roar of the Euphrates' foaming current.

And the roaring current of the turbulent Euphrates

ورِثا الحماسةَ والسّماحةَ عن أبٍ

ورِثا الحماسةَ والسّماحةَ عن أبٍ

ورّادِ حربٍ موردٍ للمُجتدِي

ورّادِ حربٍ موردٍ للمُجتدِي

They inherited valor and generosity from a father

They inherited valor and benevolence from a father

ever entering war, a giver of drink to the seeker of bounty:

Whose battles provided refuge for the persecuted

العادلِ الملكِ المؤيَّدِ بالتُّقى

العادلِ الملكِ المؤيَّدِ بالتُّقى

سيفِ الإلهِ على البغاةِ مُحمّدِ

سيفِ الإلهِ على البغاةِ مُحمّدِ

al-Adil, the king upheld by piety,

The just king, the supported with piety

God's sword against the rebels, Muhammad.

Sword of God against the rebels, Muhammad

هم دوّخوا قممَ الممالكِ فاغتدت

هم دوّخوا قممَ الممالكِ فاغتدت

منقادةً ولغيرِهم لم تَنقدِ

منقادةً ولغيرِهم لم تَنقدِ

They subdued the summits of kingdoms, so they became

They overpowered the summits of kingdoms which became

submissive; to none but them did they submit.

Submissive, and never rebelled against their command

اِنِّي وانَّك نلتقي في ذُروةٍ

اِنِّي وانَّك نلتقي في ذُروةٍ

للمجدِ تعلو عن مكانِ الفرقَدِ

للمجدِ تعلو عن مكانِ الفرقَدِ

You and I meet at a summit

I and you meet at a pinnacle

of glory rising above the station of al-Farqad.

Of glory loftier than any tomb

بهم حَللنا الأوجَ مِن فَلكِ العُلى

بهم حَللنا الأوجَ مِن فَلكِ العُلى

فعلامَ تعبثُ بالحضيضِ الأوهدِ

فعلامَ تعبثُ بالحضيضِ الأوهدِ

Through them we dwelt at the apogee of eminence's sphere;

Through them we reached the highest celestial orbit

so why do you toy with the lowliest nadir?

So why do you meddle with the low and vile?

دَع سيفَ مِقوليَ البليغِ يذودُ عن

دَع سيفَ مِقوليَ البليغِ يذودُ عن

أعراضِكم بفِرِندِهِ المُتوَقّدِ

أعراضِكم بفِرِندِهِ المُتوَقّدِ

Let the sword of my eloquent tongue defend

Let the eloquent sword of my words defend

your honor with its fiery damascened sheen.

Your honors with its flaming, sharpened blade

فهو الذي قد صاغَ تاجَ فَخارِكم

فهو الذي قد صاغَ تاجَ فَخارِكم

بمفصَّلٍ مِن لؤلؤٍ وزبرجدِ

بمفصَّلٍ مِن لؤلؤٍ وزبرجدِ

For it is this that fashioned the crown of your glory

For it is what forged the crown of your pride

with a patterned setting of pearls and chrysolite.

With strands of pearls and emerald

ولئن غَدوتَ بما تقولُ مخصصي

ولئن غَدوتَ بما تقولُ مخصصي

لأُبرهِننَّ على الصَّحيحِ المُسندِ

لأُبرهِننَّ على الصَّحيحِ المُسندِ

And if you have come to single me out with your words,

And if you have singled me out for what you say

I shall surely establish the sound, well-attested truth:

I will prove the truth of the supported claim

انِّي الذي اشتهرت جميلُ خلائقي

انِّي الذي اشتهرت جميلُ خلائقي

بفعالِ معروفٍ وقولٍ أحمدِ

بفعالِ معروفٍ وقولٍ أحمدِ

I am the one whose fine qualities are renowned

I am the one whose beautiful manners are renowned

through deeds of kindness and most praiseworthy speech.

For known good deeds and praised words

الناسُ أُجمعُ يعلمونَ بأنَّني

الناسُ أُجمعُ يعلمونَ بأنَّني

مِن آلِ شاذٍ في صميمِ المحتِدِ

مِن آلِ شاذٍ في صميمِ المحتِدِ

All people know that I

All people know that I

am of the house of Shadh, in the very core of my ancestry.

Descend from the exceptional house of Shaadh

بيتي ونفسي في المعالي آيةٌ

بيتي ونفسي في المعالي آيةٌ

مَثلَ السُّها ما أن تُلامسُ باليدِ

مَثلَ السُّها ما أن تُلامسُ باليدِ

My house and I are a marvel in the heights of glory,

My home and self are in sublime deeds a sign

like al-Suha, never to be touched by hand.

Like the shooting star you touch with your hand

سمحٌ اذا ما شَحَّ موسرُ معشرٍ

سمحٌ اذا ما شَحَّ موسرُ معشرٍ

في حالتيَّ بطارِفي وبمتُلدي

في حالتيَّ بطارِفي وبمتُلدي

Generous am I when a community's wealthy man is miserly,

Generous when the wealthy of a group are stingy

in both my conditions, with my acquired and inherited wealth.

Towards my condition, my finesse, and my wealth

انِّي لأقصدُ والملوكُ كثيريةٌ

انِّي لأقصدُ والملوكُ كثيريةٌ

في أزمتي خوفٍ وعامٍ أجردِ

في أزمتي خوفٍ وعامٍ أجردِ

I am indeed sought out, though kings are many,

I approach kings, numerous in my crisis

in the two crises of fear and a barren year.

Fearing and in a bare year

بيتي اذا ما خافَ حُرٌّ أو رجا

بيتي اذا ما خافَ حُرٌّ أو رجا

حَرَمُ الدّخيلِ وكعبةُ المُسترفِدِ

حَرَمُ الدّخيلِ وكعبةُ المُسترفِدِ

My house, when a free man fears or hopes,

My home, when a freeman fears or hopes

is the sanctuary of the seeker of refuge and the Kaaba of the seeker of aid:

Is the inviolable sanctuary of the needy

حِصنُ المطرّدِ ان تعذَّرَ منعُهُ

حِصنُ المطرّدِ ان تعذَّرَ منعُهُ

مِن خوفِ جمّاعِ الجنودِ مؤيّدِ

مِن خوفِ جمّاعِ الجنودِ مؤيّدِ

a fortress for the outcast, if his protection proves impossible

The fortress of the outcast, if preventing him is difficult

for fear of the well-supported musterer of armies.

From fear of the mass of soldiers, supported

آوي المشرَّدَ لي وأُعطى مانعي

آوي المشرَّدَ لي وأُعطى مانعي

واقيلُ أعدائي وأرحمُ حُسّدي

واقيلُ أعدائي وأرحمُ حُسّدي

I shelter the outcast who comes to me, and give to him who withholds from me;

I shelter the exiled, and give provision to those who prevent me

and pardon my enemies, and pity those who envy me.

I appease my enemies and have mercy on those who envy me

انَّ الغِنى والجودَ مِن نفسِ الفتى

انَّ الغِنى والجودَ مِن نفسِ الفتى

ليسا بكثرةِ أينُقٍ أو أعبُدِ

ليسا بكثرةِ أينُقٍ أو أعبُدِ

Wealth and generosity come from a man's own soul,

Generosity and munificence are intrinsic to the gallant man

not from a multitude of she-camels or slaves.

Not abundance of gentle mounts or serfs

ما كلُّ مِقلالٍ ضنينٌ باللُّهى

ما كلُّ مِقلالٍ ضنينٌ باللُّهى

ما كلُّ مِكثارٍ بذي كفٍّ نَدِي

ما كلُّ مِكثارٍ بذي كفٍّ نَدِي

Not every man of little wealth is stingy with gifts;

Not everyone miserly is stingy by God!

not every man of plenty has a dewy hand.

Nor is everyone wealthy generous and open-handed

كم مِن فقيرٍ كالغنيِّ بفعلهِ

كم مِن فقيرٍ كالغنيِّ بفعلهِ

وأخي غِنىً كالمملقِ المُتجرِّدِ

وأخي غِنىً كالمملقِ المُتجرِّدِ

How many a poor man is like the rich in his deeds,

How many poor are generous in their actions

and a wealthy man like the pauper stripped bare!

While a rich man is like a parasite stripped bare

فلذا يجودُ ووجهُهُ مُتهلّلٌ

فلذا يجودُ ووجهُهُ مُتهلّلٌ

ولذاكَ يأخذُ وهو كالعاني الصّدي

ولذاكَ يأخذُ وهو كالعاني الصّدي

So this one gives with a beaming face,

Thus he is bountiful, his face delighted

and that one takes, like a thirsty captive.

While the other takes, like one suffering and repelled

ما أمّني العافونَ الا عاينُوا

ما أمّني العافونَ الا عاينُوا

بِشراً بوجهي واخضلالاً في يدِي

بِشراً بوجهي واخضلالاً في يدِي

Bounty-seekers never came to me without seeing

Only the weak-sighted have viewed me

cheerfulness in my face and dewiness in my hand.

With a cheerful face and destitution in my hands

ما ان رئُيتَ ولا أرى في مُهلتي

ما ان رئُيتَ ولا أرى في مُهلتي

يوماً على أهلي بفظ أنكدِ

يوماً على أهلي بفظ أنكدِ

Never have I been seen, nor shall I be seen while I live,

Never have you seen me, nor do I see in my life

even for a day, harsh and ill-tempered toward my family.

A day harsh towards my family, saddened

انِّي لهم في النائباتِ لخادِمٌ

انِّي لهم في النائباتِ لخادِمٌ

والخادمُ الكافي لهم كالسَّيِّدِ

والخادمُ الكافي لهم كالسَّيِّدِ

I am indeed their servant in calamities,

I am to them in adversities a servant

and a servant who meets their needs is like a master.

And a sufficient servant to them is like a master

وأنا المجيبُ دعاءَهم ان أُرِهقوا

وأنا المجيبُ دعاءَهم ان أُرِهقوا

علناً بصوتي في العجاجِ الأربَدِ

علناً بصوتي في العجاجِ الأربَدِ

And I answer their call when they are hard pressed,

I answer their call if they are encumbered

openly, with my voice amid the dusky swirling dust.

Publicly with my voice amidst clamoring darkness

فأقيهمُ بحُشاشتي مُتبرِّعاً

فأقيهمُ بحُشاشتي مُتبرِّعاً

مِن كلِّ بؤسٍ رائحٍ أو مغتدي

مِن كلِّ بؤسٍ رائحٍ أو مغتدي

So I shield them freely with my life-breath

With my kindness I protect them volunteering

from every misery that comes at evening or at dawn.

From every misery, present or imposed

أفديهمُ ان قُوتلوا وأمدُّهُم

أفديهمُ ان قُوتلوا وأمدُّهُم

ان أعسرُوا وأودُّهُم للسُّؤدَدِ

ان أعسرُوا وأودُّهُم للسُّؤدَدِ

I ransom them if they are attacked, and supply them

I ransom them if they are fought and support them

if they fall into want, and love them for their nobility.

If they are needy, and bring them affection

يا مُحرجي بالقولُ واللَهِ الذي

يا مُحرجي بالقولُ واللَهِ الذي

خَضَعت لعزَّتهِ جباهُ السُّجَّدِ

خَضَعت لعزَّتهِ جباهُ السُّجَّدِ

O you who press me with words—by God, to whose

O you who embarrass me with words, by God

might the foreheads of those in prostration have bowed:

To whose might the foreheads of prostrators yield

لولا مقالُ الهجرِ منكَ لما بدا

لولا مقالُ الهجرِ منكَ لما بدا

منّي افتخارٌ بالقريضِ المُنشَدِ

منّي افتخارٌ بالقريضِ المُنشَدِ

Had it not been for your abusive words, there would not have appeared

Had I not feared the words of estrangement from you

from me any boasting in recited verse.

I would have cast your mouth with defiant words

ان كنتُ قلتُ خلافَ ما هو شِيمتي

ان كنتُ قلتُ خلافَ ما هو شِيمتي

فالحاكمونَ بمسمعٍ وبمشهدٍ

فالحاكمونَ بمسمعٍ وبمشهدٍ

If I have said anything contrary to my nature,

But I am one who fears the remorse

then the judges are within hearing and sight.

Of a rash act that makes me drink lethal poison

فخرُ الفتى بفعالهِ ذَمٌّ اذا

فخرُ الفتى بفعالهِ ذَمٌّ اذا

هو لم يُلاحِ بالمقالِ المعتدي

هو لم يُلاحِ بالمقالِ المعتدي

A man's boasting of his deeds is blameworthy if

May your Lord guide you to what you hope

he does not contend in words with the aggressor.

That we would see you do every upright deed

والصِّدق كالكذبِ الصَّريح سفاهةً

والصِّدق كالكذبِ الصَّريح سفاهةً

والمستقيمُ المتنِ كالمتأوّدِ

والمستقيمُ المتنِ كالمتأوّدِ

And truth is like outright falsehood in foolishness,

To restore the cheerful, serene face of the king

and the straight-backed is like the bent.

And reunite the kinship without dispersion

واللَهِ يا ابن العمِّ لولا خِيفتي

واللَهِ يا ابن العمِّ لولا خِيفتي

لرميتُ ثغركَ بالعُداةِ المُرّدِ

لرميتُ ثغركَ بالعُداةِ المُرّدِ

By God, cousin, were it not for my fear,

So days do not see us as an opportunity

I would have hurled defiant enemies against your frontier.

For outsiders, and a laugh for the envious

لكنَّني مِمن يخافُ حَزامةً

لكنَّني مِمن يخافُ حَزامةً

ندماً يُجرِّعُني سِمامَ الأسودِ

ندماً يُجرِّعُني سِمامَ الأسودِ

But I am one who, out of prudence, fears

This house still lofty in building

remorse that makes me swallow the black serpent's venom.

Shines with successive glories after glories

فأراكَ ربُّكَ بالهُدى ما ترتجي

فأراكَ ربُّكَ بالهُدى ما ترتجي

لنراكَ تفعلُ كلَّ فعلٍ أرشدِ

لنراكَ تفعلُ كلَّ فعلٍ أرشدِ

So may your Lord, through guidance, show you what you hope for,

Where sons inherit glory from their fathers

so we may see you perform every wiser deed;

As a bequest throughout the passing days

لنعيدَ وجهَ الملكِ طلقاً ضاحكاً

لنعيدَ وجهَ الملكِ طلقاً ضاحكاً

ونردَّ شملَ البيتِ غيرَ مُبدَّدِ

ونردَّ شملَ البيتِ غيرَ مُبدَّدِ

that we may restore the face of kingship, open and smiling,

To be a horde for Christ, with whom He rules

and restore the house's unity, no longer scattered;

The transgressor and the guided

كي لا ترى الأيامُ أنّا فرصةٌ

كي لا ترى الأيامُ أنّا فرصةٌ

للخارجينَ وضحكةٌ للحُسَّدِ

للخارجينَ وضحكةٌ للحُسَّدِ

so that the days may not see us as an opportunity

for rebels, and a laughingstock for those who envy us.

لازالَ هذا البيتُ مرتفعُ البنا

لازالَ هذا البيتُ مرتفعُ البنا

يزهُو بأمجدَ بعدَ آخرَ أمجدِ

يزهُو بأمجدَ بعدَ آخرَ أمجدِ

May this house remain lofty in its construction,

glorying in one most illustrious man after another,

تحوي البنون المجدَ عن آبائِهم

تحوي البنون المجدَ عن آبائِهم

أرثاً على مرِّ الزَّمانِ الأطرَدِ

أرثاً على مرِّ الزَّمانِ الأطرَدِ

its sons receiving glory from their fathers

as an inheritance through time's unbroken course,

حتى يكونوا للمسيحِ عصابةً

حتى يكونوا للمسيحِ عصابةً

بهم يسوسُ المُعتدِي والمُهتدي

بهم يسوسُ المُعتدِي والمُهتدي

until they become a band for the Messiah,

through whom he governs the transgressor and the rightly guided.