سَقى الإِلَهُ سُرَّ مَن رَأى القَطرا

سَقى الإِلَهُ سُرَّ مَن رَأى القَطرا

وَالكَرخَ وَالخُمسَ القُرى وَالجَسرا

وَالكَرخَ وَالخُمسَ القُرى وَالجَسرا

May God water Surr Man Ra’a—Samarra—with rain,

May God water Surra Man Ra'a with rain,

and al-Karkh, the five villages, and al-Jisr—the Bridge.

and al-Karkh, and the five villages, and the bridge.

قَد عَجَموا عودي وَكُنتُ مُرّا

قَد عَجَموا عودي وَكُنتُ مُرّا

حُرّاً إِذا لَم يَكُ حُرٌّ حُرّا

حُرّاً إِذا لَم يَكُ حُرٌّ حُرّا

They tested my mettle, and I was bitter—

They tested my wood with their teeth, and I was bitter—

free, when no free man was free.

noble, when no noble man was noble.

لا تَأمَنوا مِن بَعدِ حِلمٍ شَرّا

لا تَأمَنوا مِن بَعدِ حِلمٍ شَرّا

كَم غُصُنٍ أَخضَرَ صارَ جَمرا

كَم غُصُنٍ أَخضَرَ صارَ جَمرا

After my forbearance, do not think yourselves safe from harm:

Do not feel safe from harm after forbearance:

How many a green branch has turned to embers.

many a green branch has turned to embers.