1. بِكَ العُلا تَظاهَرُ

    فَأَنتَ فيها الزاهِرُ

    Through you, glory manifests itself,

    for you are its radiant one.

  2. وَأَنتَ مِنها سَمعُها

    وَأَنتَ فيها الباصِرُ

    And you are its sense of hearing,

    and within it you are the one who sees.

  3. وَواجِدٌ أَنتَ بِها

    وَمَن يَثني ساخِرُ

    And you are enamored of it,

    and whoever would dissuade you is a scoffer.

  4. فَقُطرُ مِصرَ يَنبَغي

    بِكَ المَلا يُفاخِرُ

    So the land of Egypt ought

    to boast of you before the multitude,

  5. إِذ أَنتَ فيهِ المُصطَفى

    وَأَنتَ فيهِ الماهِرُ

    since within it you are the chosen one,

    and within it you are the skilled one.

  6. عِلمٌ وَأَعمالٌ بِلا

    شَقشَقَةٍ تُبادِرُ

    Knowledge and deeds, without

    bluster—you are quick to act.

  7. الطَيشُ عَنكَ غائِبٌ

    وَالحَزمُ فيكَ حاضِرُ

    Recklessness is absent from you,

    and firm resolve is present in you.

  8. وَالعِلمُ رَوضٌ غُصنُهُ

    وَاللَهِ أَنتَ الناضِرُ

    And knowledge is a garden whose bough—

    by God—is you, flourishing.

  9. لا يَجحَدِ الفَضلُ سِوى

    مَن لِلنَهارِ ناكِرُ

    None denies merit except

    one who denies the daylight.

  10. كَم مُشكَلٍ حَلَلتَهُ

    وَقَبلَ قيلَ واعِرُ

    How many a difficult problem you have solved,

    though earlier it was called daunting.

  11. وَمُعضِلٌ عالَجتَهُ

    وَالشَيخُ عَنهُ قاصِرُ

    And a knotty problem you have tackled,

    while the elder was unequal to it,

  12. بِفِطنَةٍ ذَكِيَّةٍ

    لَهيبُها يَطّايَرُ

    with keen intelligence,

    whose flame leaps forth.

  13. تَحَرَّقَ كُلَّ حاسِدٍ

    بِما أَتَيتَ كافِرُ

    Every envious soul burned with anguish,

    denying what you have achieved.

  14. وَهِمَّةٌ عَلِيَّةٌ

    عَنها الثَناءُ عاطِرُ

    And lofty aspiration,

    whose praise is fragrant,

  15. وَحِكمَةٌ مُدهِشَةٌ

    فيها الكَبيرُ صاغِرُ

    and astonishing wisdom,

    before which the great are humbled.

  16. مَن لي بِشَهمٍ في البِلا

    دِ يَكونُ فيها الآمِرُ

    Who can find me a noble man in the land

    who would be its ruler?

  17. وَاللَهِ إِنَّكَ أَهلَها

    وَبِها الجَديرُ القادِرُ

    By God, you are indeed worthy of it,

    and fit for it, and capable.

  18. فَالزَم فَدَيتُ خُطَّةً

    كُلَّ عَلَيها شاكِرُ

    So hold to a course—I would ransom you—

    for which everyone is grateful.

  19. وَاِرقُب مَقاماً عالِياً

    إِلَيكَ حالاً صائِرُ

    And await a lofty station,

    coming your way presently.

  20. وَاِذكُر وِدادَ مُخلِصٍ

    أَبَداً وَلاكَ ذاكِرُ

    And remember the affection of one devoted,

    ever mindful of your friendship.

  21. وَإِلَيكَ عيدُ أَسعَدُ

    فيهِ الهَناءُ وافِرُ

    And may yours be a happier festival,

    with abundant happiness in it.

  22. يَأتي عَلَيكَ مِثلُهُ

    بِقُوَّةٍ تُوازِرُ

    May another like it come to you,

    with strength to sustain you,

  23. حَتّى أَطيرَ فَرحَةً

    وَمَن أَوَدُّ ناظِرُ

    until I fly for joy,

    while the one I love looks on.