البحر أنت وهذا العالم السمك

البحر أنت وهذا العالم السمك

فان تخليت عنهم ساعة هلكوا

فان تخليت عنهم ساعة هلكوا

You are the sea, and this world the fish.

You are the sea, and this world is the fish

For if you abandon them for an hour, they perish.

If you abandon them for an hour, they will perish

هم الرعايا العبيد الطائعون هم

هم الرعايا العبيد الطائعون هم

وأنت أنت المطاع السيد الملك

وأنت أنت المطاع السيد الملك

They—they are the subjects, the obedient slaves.

They are the subjects, the obedient slaves, they are

And you—you are the one obeyed, the master, the king.

While you, you are the obeyed, the master, the king

هلا تكلهم إلى من ليس يرحمهم

هلا تكلهم إلى من ليس يرحمهم

ولا يرى هلكهم أمرا به درك

ولا يرى هلكهم أمرا به درك

Why not entrust them to one who has no mercy on them

Why would you leave them to one who does not have mercy on them

And does not regard their ruin as something he must answer for?

And does not see their destruction as a matter of concern

فانت أكرم يا من لم يخب أمل

فانت أكرم يا من لم يخب أمل

في فضله كلما مدت له شبك

في فضله كلما مدت له شبك

For you are more generous, O you who have never disappointed hope

For you are the most generous, O you whose hope

In your bounty, whenever nets were spread for you.

In your grace has never been dashed, whenever you cast your net

أمهلتهم وفعلت الخير أجمعه

أمهلتهم وفعلت الخير أجمعه

ولم يكن منك تعنيف ولا نهك

ولم يكن منك تعنيف ولا نهك

You gave them respite and did all that was good.

You have been patient with them and done all good

And from you came neither rebuke nor harsh treatment.

And there has been from you no rebuke or groan

فامنن بأخرى وسامحهم وحط ولا

فامنن بأخرى وسامحهم وحط ولا

تترك عوائدك الحسنى وإن تركوا

تترك عوائدك الحسنى وإن تركوا

So grant another favor, forgive them, and lighten their burden; do not

So favor them again and forgive them and lower yourself but do not

Abandon your gracious ways, even if they abandon theirs.

Abandon your good customs, even if they abandon theirs

فضرهم بينّ فاغنم دعا وثنا

فضرهم بينّ فاغنم دعا وثنا

يبقى وتبقى له ما أبقي الفلك

يبقى وتبقى له ما أبقي الفلك

For their distress is plain; so win prayers and praise

So cover their harm, and gain prayer and praise

That endure, while you live to receive them as long as the heavens endure.

That will remain, and what the ships have made remain