دَعَتْنِي حاجَةٌ فَبَعَثْتُ وَفْداً

دَعَتْنِي حاجَةٌ فَبَعَثْتُ وَفْداً

حَقِيقاً بِالمَطالِبِ أَنْ يَعُودا

حَقِيقاً بِالمَطالِبِ أَنْ يَعُودا

A need called me, so I sent a delegation,

A need summoned me, so I sent a delegation

worthy to return with what I seek—

Truthfully, with requests, that they should return

ثَناءً لا يَزُورُ الدَّهْرَ إِلاّ

ثَناءً لا يَزُورُ الدَّهْرَ إِلاّ

مَلِيكاً قاهِراً وَأَخاً وَدُودا

مَلِيكاً قاهِراً وَأَخاً وَدُودا

praise that, throughout time, visits none but

With praise, time does not betray, except

a conquering king and a loving brother.

For a victorious king, and a loving brother

وَلَو أَنِّي أَشاءُ هَزَزْتُ قَوْماً

وَلَو أَنِّي أَشاءُ هَزَزْتُ قَوْماً

وَلكِنِّي أَراكَ أَغَضَّ عُودا

وَلكِنِّي أَراكَ أَغَضَّ عُودا

And if I wished, I would shake other men,

And if I wished, I could have shaken a nation

but I see you as the tenderest bough.

But I see in you, the most tender sapling