لا تَلُم كَفّي إِذا السَيفُ نَبا

لا تَلُم كَفّي إِذا السَيفُ نَبا

صَحَّ مِنّي العَزمُ وَالدَهرُ أَبى

صَحَّ مِنّي العَزمُ وَالدَهرُ أَبى

Do not blame my hand if the sword failed to strike.

Do not blame my hand if the sword fails to cut.

My resolve proved sound, but fate refused.

My resolve held firm, but fate refused.

رُبَّ ساعٍ مُبصِرٍ في سَعيِهِ

رُبَّ ساعٍ مُبصِرٍ في سَعيِهِ

أَخطَأَ التَوفيقَ فيما طَلَبا

أَخطَأَ التَوفيقَ فيما طَلَبا

Many a clear-sighted striver, in his striving,

Many a striver, clear-sighted in his striving,

has missed success in what he sought.

has missed success in what he sought.

مَرحَباً بِالخَطبِ يَبلوني إِذا

مَرحَباً بِالخَطبِ يَبلوني إِذا

كانَتِ العَلياءُ فيهِ السَبَبا

كانَتِ العَلياءُ فيهِ السَبَبا

Welcome the ordeal when it tries me,

Welcome to the calamity that tests me, if

if lofty glory is its cause.

greatness is what brought it on.

عَقَّني الدَهرُ وَلَولا أَنَّني

عَقَّني الدَهرُ وَلَولا أَنَّني

أوثِرُ الحُسنى عَقَقتُ الأَدَبا

أوثِرُ الحُسنى عَقَقتُ الأَدَبا

Time has wronged me; had I not

Fate has betrayed me; were it not that I

preferred the noble course, I would have wronged decorum.

prefer virtue, I would have flouted decorum.

إيهِ يا دُنيا اِعبِسي أَو فَاِبسِمي

إيهِ يا دُنيا اِعبِسي أَو فَاِبسِمي

لا أَرى بَرقَكِ إِلّا خُلَّبا

لا أَرى بَرقَكِ إِلّا خُلَّبا

Ah, world—frown, or else smile;

Go on, O world: frown, or else smile;

I see your lightning only as a false flash.

I see your lightning as nothing but a rainless flash.

أَنا لَولا أَنَّ لي مِن أُمَّتي

أَنا لَولا أَنَّ لي مِن أُمَّتي

خاذِلاً ما بِتُّ أَشكو النُوَبا

خاذِلاً ما بِتُّ أَشكو النُوَبا

Were it not that, among my nation, I have

Were it not that I had, among my own people,

one who forsakes me, I would not spend the night lamenting calamities.

someone who failed me, I would not spend the night bewailing calamities.

أُمَّةً قَد فَتَّ في ساعِدِها

أُمَّةً قَد فَتَّ في ساعِدِها

بُغضُها الأَهلَ وَحُبُّ الغُرَبا

بُغضُها الأَهلَ وَحُبُّ الغُرَبا

A nation whose arm has been weakened

A nation whose arm has been sapped of strength

by hatred of its own and love of foreigners;

by its hatred of its own kin and its love of strangers.

تَعشَقُ الأَلقابَ في غَيرِ العُلا

تَعشَقُ الأَلقابَ في غَيرِ العُلا

وَتُفَدّي بِالنُفوسِ الرُتَبا

وَتُفَدّي بِالنُفوسِ الرُتَبا

it adores titles where no true eminence lies,

It adores titles unaccompanied by greatness,

and ransoms ranks with lives.

and gives lives as ransom for ranks.

وَهيَ وَالأَحداثُ تَستَهدِفُها

وَهيَ وَالأَحداثُ تَستَهدِفُها

تَعشَقُ اللَهوَ وَتَهوى الطَرَبا

تَعشَقُ اللَهوَ وَتَهوى الطَرَبا

Feeble, while events take aim at it,

And it, while calamities take aim at it,

it loves diversion and delights in revelry.

adores amusement and craves merriment.

لا تُبالي لَعِبَ القَومُ بِها

لا تُبالي لَعِبَ القَومُ بِها

أَم بِها صَرفُ اللَيالي لَعِبا

أَم بِها صَرفُ اللَيالي لَعِبا

It cares not whether the people play with it,

It cares not whether people toy with it

or the vicissitudes of nights make it their plaything.

or the changing fortunes of the nights toy with it.

لَيتَها تَسمَعُ مِنّي قِصَّةً

لَيتَها تَسمَعُ مِنّي قِصَّةً

ذاتَ شَجوٍ وَحَديثاً عَجَبا

ذاتَ شَجوٍ وَحَديثاً عَجَبا

Would that it heard from me a tale

If only it would hear from me a tale

of sorrow, and a wondrous account.

full of sorrow, and a wondrous account.

كُنتُ أَهوى في زَماني غادَةً

كُنتُ أَهوى في زَماني غادَةً

وَهَبَ اللَهُ لَها ما وَهَبا

وَهَبَ اللَهُ لَها ما وَهَبا

In my day I loved a maiden

Once, in my day, I loved a graceful maiden,

to whom God had granted all that He granted:

to whom God had given what He gave,

ذاتَ وَجهٍ مَزَجَ الحُسنُ بِهِ

ذاتَ وَجهٍ مَزَجَ الحُسنُ بِهِ

صُفرَةً تُنسي اليَهودَ الذَهَبا

صُفرَةً تُنسي اليَهودَ الذَهَبا

a face in which beauty had mingled

with a face in which beauty had blended

a pallor that made the Jews forget gold.

a yellow hue that makes the Jews forget gold.

حَمَلَت لي ذاتَ يَومٍ نَبَأً

حَمَلَت لي ذاتَ يَومٍ نَبَأً

لا رَعاكَ اللَهُ يا ذاكَ النَبا

لا رَعاكَ اللَهُ يا ذاكَ النَبا

One day she brought me news—

One day she brought me news—

God preserve you not, O news!

May God not preserve you, O tidings!

وَأَتَت تَخطِرُ وَاللَيلُ فَتىً

وَأَتَت تَخطِرُ وَاللَيلُ فَتىً

وَهِلالُ الأُفقِ في الأُفقِ حَبا

وَهِلالُ الأُفقِ في الأُفقِ حَبا

She came swaying while the night was young,

She came swaying gracefully while the night was young,

and the horizon’s crescent crawled along the sky.

and the horizon's crescent crept along the horizon.

ثُمَّ قالَت لي بِثَغرٍ باسِمٍ

ثُمَّ قالَت لي بِثَغرٍ باسِمٍ

نَظَمَ الدُرَّ بِهِ وَالحَبَبا

نَظَمَ الدُرَّ بِهِ وَالحَبَبا

Then she said to me with a smiling mouth

Then she said to me through smiling lips,

that strung together pearls and bubbles of saliva:

where pearls and bubbles were strung:

نَبِّؤوني بِرَحيلٍ عاجِلٍ

نَبِّؤوني بِرَحيلٍ عاجِلٍ

لا أَرى لي بَعدَهُ مُنقَلِبا

لا أَرى لي بَعدَهُ مُنقَلِبا

“They have told me of an imminent departure;

“They have told me of an imminent departure;

I see no return for me after it.

after it, I see no return for myself.

وَدَعاني مَوطِني أَن أَغتَدي

وَدَعاني مَوطِني أَن أَغتَدي

عَلَّني أَقضي لَهُ ما وَجَبا

عَلَّني أَقضي لَهُ ما وَجَبا

My homeland has called me to set forth,

My homeland has called me to set out at dawn,

that perhaps I may discharge what I owe it.

that perhaps I may fulfill what I owe it.

نَذبَحُ الدُبَّ وَنَفري جِلدَهُ

نَذبَحُ الدُبَّ وَنَفري جِلدَهُ

أَيَظُنُّ الدُبُّ أَلّا يُغلَبا

أَيَظُنُّ الدُبُّ أَلّا يُغلَبا

We shall slaughter the bear and flay its hide—

We shall slaughter the bear and slash its hide.

does the bear think it cannot be defeated?”

Does the bear think it will not be defeated?”

قُلتُ وَالآلامُ تَفري مُهجَتي

قُلتُ وَالآلامُ تَفري مُهجَتي

وَيكِ ما تَصنَعُ في الحَربِ الظِبا

وَيكِ ما تَصنَعُ في الحَربِ الظِبا

I said, while anguish tore my heart:

I said, while pain rent my heart:

“Woe to you! What can gazelles do in war?

“Woe to you! What do gazelles do in war?

ما عَهِدناها لِظَبيٍ مَسرَحاً

ما عَهِدناها لِظَبيٍ مَسرَحاً

يَبتَغي مُلهىً بِهِ أَو مَلعَبا

يَبتَغي مُلهىً بِهِ أَو مَلعَبا

Never have we known it as a pasture for a gazelle

We have never known it as a pasture for a gazelle

seeking there some diversion or playground.

seeking amusement there, or a playground.

لَيسَتِ الحَربُ نُفوساً تُشتَرى

لَيسَتِ الحَربُ نُفوساً تُشتَرى

بِالتَمَنّي أَو عُقولاً تُستَبى

بِالتَمَنّي أَو عُقولاً تُستَبى

War is not lives that can be bought

War is not a matter of souls that can be bought

with wishful thinking, nor minds to be taken captive.

by wishing, or minds that can be taken captive.

أَحَسِبتِ القَدِّ مِن عُدَّتِها

أَحَسِبتِ القَدِّ مِن عُدَّتِها

أَم ظَنَنتِ اللَحظَ فيها كَالشَبا

أَم ظَنَنتِ اللَحظَ فيها كَالشَبا

Did you think the slender figure part of its equipment,

Did you count a shapely figure among its weapons,

or suppose that glances there were like sword-blades?

or think a glance in battle was like a weapon's edge?

فَسَليني إِنَّني مارَستُها

فَسَليني إِنَّني مارَستُها

وَرَكِبتُ الهَولَ فيها مَركَبا

وَرَكِبتُ الهَولَ فيها مَركَبا

Ask me—I have practiced war,

Then ask me: I have experienced it,

and ridden terror in it as my mount.

and ridden terror in it as my mount.

وَتَقَحَّمتُ الرَدى في غارَةٍ

وَتَقَحَّمتُ الرَدى في غارَةٍ

أَسدَلَ النَقعُ عَلَيها هَيدَبا

أَسدَلَ النَقعُ عَلَيها هَيدَبا

I plunged into death in a raid

I plunged into death in a raid

over which the dust-cloud dropped a shaggy veil.

over which dust let fall a trailing fringe.

قَطَّبَت ما بَينَ عَينَيها لَنا

قَطَّبَت ما بَينَ عَينَيها لَنا

فَرَأَيتُ المَوتَ فيها قَطَّبا

فَرَأَيتُ المَوتَ فيها قَطَّبا

It frowned upon us, knitting its brow,

It knitted its brow at us,

and I saw death within it, frowning.

so I saw death frown within it.

جالَ عِزرائيلُ في أَنحائِها

جالَ عِزرائيلُ في أَنحائِها

تَحتَ ذاكَ النَقعِ يَمشي الهَيذَبى

تَحتَ ذاكَ النَقعِ يَمشي الهَيذَبى

Azrael roamed throughout its reaches,

Azrael roamed its reaches,

and beneath that dust the bristling lion strode.

beneath that dust, moving with a swift gait.

فَدَعيها لِلَّذي يَعرِفُها

فَدَعيها لِلَّذي يَعرِفُها

وَاِلزَمي يا ظَبيَةَ البانِ الخِبا

وَاِلزَمي يا ظَبيَةَ البانِ الخِبا

So leave war to one who knows it,

So leave it to the one who knows it,

and keep, O gazelle of the bān groves, to the tent.”

and keep to the tent, O gazelle of the bān-tree.”

فَأَجابَتني بِصَوتٍ راعَني

فَأَجابَتني بِصَوتٍ راعَني

وَأَرَتني الظَبيَ لَيثاً أَغلَبا

وَأَرَتني الظَبيَ لَيثاً أَغلَبا

She answered me in a voice that startled me,

She answered me in a voice that startled me,

and showed me the gazelle transformed into an indomitable lion:

and showed me the gazelle as a mighty lion.

إِنَّ قَومي اسِتَعذَبوا وِردَ الرَدى

إِنَّ قَومي اسِتَعذَبوا وِردَ الرَدى

كَيفَ تَدعونِيَ أَلّا أَشرَبا

كَيفَ تَدعونِيَ أَلّا أَشرَبا

“My people have found sweet the watering-place of death;

“My people have found the draught of death sweet;

how can you call on me not to drink?

how can you ask me not to drink?

أَنا يابانِيَّةٌ لا أَنثَني

أَنا يابانِيَّةٌ لا أَنثَني

عَن مُرادي أَو أَذوقَ العَطَبا

عَن مُرادي أَو أَذوقَ العَطَبا

I am Japanese; I do not turn

I am Japanese; I shall not turn back

from my purpose—or else I taste destruction.

from my purpose until I taste death.

أَنا إِن لَم أُحسِنِ الرَميَ وَلَم

أَنا إِن لَم أُحسِنِ الرَميَ وَلَم

تَستَطِع كَفّايَ تَقليبَ الظُبا

تَستَطِع كَفّايَ تَقليبَ الظُبا

If I cannot shoot well, and

If I am not skilled at shooting, and

my hands cannot wield the blades,

my two hands cannot wield sword blades,

أَخدِمُ الجَرحى وَأَقضي حَقَّهُم

أَخدِمُ الجَرحى وَأَقضي حَقَّهُم

وَأُواسي في الوَغى مَن نُكِبا

وَأُواسي في الوَغى مَن نُكِبا

I shall tend the wounded and fulfill their due,

I will tend the wounded and give them their due,

and comfort in battle whoever is struck down.

and comfort those stricken in battle.

هَكَذا الميكادُ قَد عَلَّمَنا

هَكَذا الميكادُ قَد عَلَّمَنا

أَن نَرى الأَوطانَ أُمّاً وَأَبا

أَن نَرى الأَوطانَ أُمّاً وَأَبا

Thus the Mikado has taught us:

Thus has the Mikado taught us

to regard our homelands as mother and father.

to see our homelands as mother and father.

مَلِكٌ يَكفيكَ مِنهُ أَنَّهُ

مَلِكٌ يَكفيكَ مِنهُ أَنَّهُ

أَنهَضَ الشَرقَ فَهَزَّ المَغرِبا

أَنهَضَ الشَرقَ فَهَزَّ المَغرِبا

A king of whom it is enough for you to know

A king of whom it is enough for you to know

that he awakened the East and shook the West.

that he roused the East and thereby shook the West.

وَإِذا مارَستَهُ أَلفَيتَهُ

وَإِذا مارَستَهُ أَلفَيتَهُ

حُوَّلاً في كُلِّ أَمرٍ قُلَّبا

حُوَّلاً في كُلِّ أَمرٍ قُلَّبا

When you put him to the test, you find him

And if you deal with him, you find him

resourceful, turning every matter every way.

resourceful in every matter, versatile.

كانَ وَالتاجُ صَغيرَينِ مَعاً

كانَ وَالتاجُ صَغيرَينِ مَعاً

وَجَلالُ المُلكِ في مَهدِ الصِبا

وَجَلالُ المُلكِ في مَهدِ الصِبا

He and the crown were both young together,

He and the crown were both young together,

and royal majesty was in the cradle of youth.

and kingship's majesty lay in childhood's cradle.

فَغَدا هَذا سَماءً لِلعُلا

فَغَدا هَذا سَماءً لِلعُلا

وَغَدا ذَلِكَ فيها كَوكَبا

وَغَدا ذَلِكَ فيها كَوكَبا

So this became a heaven for lofty glory,

Then this became a sky for greatness,

and that, within it, became a star.

and that became a star within it.

بَعَثَ الأُمَّةَ مِن مَرقَدِها

بَعَثَ الأُمَّةَ مِن مَرقَدِها

وَدَعاها لِلعُلا أَن تَدأَبا

وَدَعاها لِلعُلا أَن تَدأَبا

He roused the nation from its sleep,

He roused the nation from its bed,

and called it to strive unceasingly for the heights.

and called upon it to strive tirelessly for greatness.

فَسَمَت لِلمَجدِ تَبغي شَأوَهُ

فَسَمَت لِلمَجدِ تَبغي شَأوَهُ

وَقَضَت مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ مَأرَبا

وَقَضَت مِن كُلِّ شَيءٍ مَأرَبا

It rose toward glory, seeking its farthest reach,

So it rose toward glory, seeking its utmost reach,

and won from every people what it sought.

and gained from everything what it desired.”