يا جعفر الجودِ كم انهلت ظَمآنا

يا جعفر الجودِ كم انهلت ظَمآنا

فراحَ مُبتلةً أحشاهُ ريَّانا

فراحَ مُبتلةً أحشاهُ ريَّانا

O Ja‘far of generosity, how often you have given a thirsty man drink,

O Ja'far, how much thirst have you quenched for us,

And he departed, his innards moistened, his thirst quenched.

So our insides were saturated with your generosity.

وكم بسطتَ يداً ما للسحابِ يدٌ

وكم بسطتَ يداً ما للسحابِ يدٌ

بأن تساجِلها جُوداً وإحسانا

بأن تساجِلها جُوداً وإحسانا

And how often you stretched out a hand—the clouds have no hand

How much have you extended a hand that has no equal,

To rival it in generosity and kindness.

With your benevolence and kindness you have contended with the clouds.

بَنَت عماداً به من مجدِها رفَعت

بَنَت عماداً به من مجدِها رفَعت

سقفاً يسامِتُ في علياهُ كيوانا

سقفاً يسامِتُ في علياهُ كيوانا

It built a pillar upon which, from its own glory, it raised

With it you have built pillars of glory,

A roof that, at its height, stands level with Saturn.

And erected a ceiling competing the highest heavens.

وكم دفعتَ بها في صدرِ نازلةٍ

وكم دفعتَ بها في صدرِ نازلةٍ

طرحتَ منها عن اللاّجينَ ثَهلانا

طرحتَ منها عن اللاّجينَ ثَهلانا

And how often with it you struck at the breast of a calamity,

How much with it you have deflected the descending calamities,

Casting its Mount Thahlan off those seeking refuge.

Saving the refugees from certain annihilation.

فمن يساميكَ في مجدٍ وفي شَرفٍ

فمن يساميكَ في مجدٍ وفي شَرفٍ

وأنتَ أرفعُ أبناءِ العلى شانا

وأنتَ أرفعُ أبناءِ العلى شانا

Who, then, can rival you in glory and in honor,

So who can compete with you in glory and nobility,

While you are highest in standing among the sons of eminence?

When you are the highest of the eminent in status.

وليسَ ما فيكَ كِبراً مثل ما زَعِمَ

وليسَ ما فيكَ كِبراً مثل ما زَعِمَ

الحُسَّادُ بل شَمخٌ من هاشمٍ كانا

الحُسَّادُ بل شَمخٌ من هاشمٍ كانا

And what is in you is not arrogance, as claimed

What they claim you have is not pride,

By the envious, but a loftiness that came from Hashim.

But the loftiness inherited from Hashim.

لو الكمالُ بدا شخصاً لما وجدوا

لو الكمالُ بدا شخصاً لما وجدوا

سواكَ في عينِ ذاك الشخصِ إنسانا

سواكَ في عينِ ذاك الشخصِ إنسانا

Were perfection to appear as a person, they would not find

If perfection took human form, they would not find,

Any pupil but you in that person's eye.

Anyone but you to represent that ideal human.

فيا أرقَّ ذوي المعروفِ كلّهم

فيا أرقَّ ذوي المعروفِ كلّهم

يداً وأصلبَ أهل الحزمِ عِيدانا

يداً وأصلبَ أهل الحزمِ عِيدانا

So, O gentlest of all doers of good

O most benevolent of all generous people,

In hand, and stoutest in timber among men of resolve,

And firmest of resolute men.

قد انتجعتكَ والأنواءُ مُحفلةٌ

قد انتجعتكَ والأنواءُ مُحفلةٌ

غيثاً يقومُ مقامَ الغيثِ هَتانا

غيثاً يقومُ مقامَ الغيثِ هَتانا

Indeed, I sought you out while the rains were abundant,

I sought you while calamities convened,

As a copious downpour that takes the place of rain.

Like rain you took the place of the absent downpour.

فكنتَ ديمَةُ جودٍ أمطرت وَرقاً

فكنتَ ديمَةُ جودٍ أمطرت وَرقاً

لديَّ فاعجب لقَطرٍ كانَ عُقيانا

لديَّ فاعجب لقَطرٍ كانَ عُقيانا

So you were a steady rain of generosity, showering silver

You were a perpetual raincloud that poured leaves upon me,

For me—marvel, then, at drops that were pure gold!

Amazing that drizzles were rivers.

فلتشكرنَّك ما غنَّت مطوَّقةٌ

فلتشكرنَّك ما غنَّت مطوَّقةٌ

نواطِقٌ بالثنا تطريك إعلانا

نواطِقٌ بالثنا تطريك إعلانا

So may you indeed be thanked as long as a collared dove sings,

So may every poetess thank you, singing your praises,

By voices of praise that extol you aloud.

With eloquent voices declaring your virtues.