1. عيني تلَت ما سطَّرَته يميني

    مترنّماً بالجوهر المكنونِ

    My eye recited what my right hand had inscribed,

    as I chanted of the hidden jewel:

  2. أي ماري جرجسَ والشهيد بمشهد ال

    شهداءِ أضحى شاهداً للدين

    namely, Mar George, the martyr, who in the gathering of the

    martyrs became a witness to the faith.

  3. لو أبصرت عيناك يومَ طعانِه

    بصدور أهل الكفر والتنّين

    Had your eyes seen the day of his lance-thrusting

    into the breasts of the unbelievers and the dragon,

  4. لعلمتَ أنْ ملكوتُ ربِّك قد غدا

    غَصباً ومغتصبوه بالتمكين

    you would have known that your Lord's kingdom had become

    subject to forcible seizure, and its seizers empowered.

  5. فالكفر والتنِّينُ والخَودُ اقتضت

    إثماً وشيطاناً ونفسَ أمين

    For unbelief, the dragon, and the maiden implied

    sin, a devil, and a faithful person's soul.

  6. أضحى وليُّ اللَه فيها برزخاً

    متوسطاً كالنور في التكوين

    God's saint became a barrier therein,

    standing between, like light in creation.

  7. يا خِلُّ خَلِّ عنكَ نظمَ مدائحٍ

    بِشُلُوح ثيرانٍ بغيرِ قرون

    O friend, put aside the composing of praises

    for the hides of bulls without horns.

  8. قومٌ غليظ العيش عيشتُهم وإن

    برقيقِه عثروا رَوَوهُ كَدين

    A people whose life is coarse, and even if

    they stumble upon its refinement, they recount it as a creed.

  9. مُلِئت جسومُهمُ كلوماً مثلما

    ملئت نفوسُهمُ من الملعون

    Their bodies were filled with wounds, just as

    their souls were filled with the accursed one.

  10. إن كان إسرائيلُ قد ذاق العمى

    من بعد يوسفَ والفتى الميمون

    If Israel had tasted blindness

    after Joseph and the blessed youth,

  11. فكذاك ضلّوا عن يسوع بمكرهم

    وغدَوا جُثِيّاً بَعدَه بدُجُون

    so too they strayed from Jesus through their guile,

    and after him came to kneel in gloom.

  12. واستقبلوا ذئباً لئيماً فاتكاً

    واستدبَروا حَمَلاً وديعَ اللين

    They welcomed a vile, murderous wolf

    and turned their backs on a gentle, tender lamb.

  13. عَمِيَت بصائرُهم وذلَّت روسُهم

    وانحطَّ شانهمُ انحطاطَ جُنون

    Their inner sight grew blind, and their heads were humbled,

    and their standing fell in a maddened descent.

  14. إن قلتَ قد طاعوا فتَصدِقُ إنهم

    طاعوا ولكن كفرَهم بالدين

    If you say they obeyed, you speak truly: they

    obeyed—but their unbelief in the faith.

  15. أو قلت قد خضعوا فتَصدِقُ إنهم

    خضعوا ولكن للشقِيْ المسكين

    Or if you say they submitted, you speak truly: they

    submitted—but to the wretched, pitiable one.

  16. فانكرهُمُ تركَنْ وحِدْ عنهم تُعَنْ

    وارمي بهم تُعلِن بخيرِ يقين

    So reject them and find repose; turn from them and be helped.

    Cast them away; you will proclaim with the best certainty.

  17. وانشد بِرَصدِ العقل في أَوجِ الصَّبا

    كن يا يسوعُ ابنَ الإله مُعيني

    And sing, with reason keeping watch, at the height of youthful ardor:

    Be my helper, O Jesus, Son of God.

  18. أني أتيت مصدِّقاً بك مؤمناً

    فاغفر وفِر إذ كنتَ غيرَ ضنين

    For I have come believing in you, full of faith.

    So forgive and give abundantly, since you are not miserly,

  19. مستشفعاً مستمسكاً مستلئماً

    بملاذ ماري جُرجُسَ المَحصون

    seeking intercession, holding fast, and donning armor

    in the fortified refuge of Mar George.

  20. بُرجٌ وجِسرٌ قلبُه وجنانُه

    فاطرح بقلبِ العاجز التمكين

    A tower and a bridge are his heart and soul;

    so cast strength into the helpless one's heart.

  21. والجأ إليه قاصداً مترجِّياً

    تجدِ المنى بدعائه المضمون

    And seek refuge with him, intent and hopeful;

    you will attain your wishes through his assured prayer.

  22. فعلاؤُه وولاؤُه وهداؤُه ال

    مأمونُ في المأمونِ في المأمون

    For his eminence, his devotion, and his guidance,

    assured, are within the assured, within the assured.

  23. يا أيها المولى الغيورُ ببأسه

    إني اتخذتُك في الورى كقريني

    O lord, zealous in your might,

    I have taken you as my companion among humankind.

  24. فاسلم وسُد واعتزَّ وارحم ثم صُنْ

    عبداً أتاك وأنت خيرُ ضمين

    So remain safe, reign, be mighty, have mercy, then protect

    a servant who has come to you—and you are the best guarantor.