هَذي المساعي قياساً أيُّها النَّاهي

هَذي المساعي قياساً أيُّها النَّاهي

مُنِّيتُها والمُنى أضْغاثُ أحلامِ

مُنِّيتُها والمُنى أضْغاثُ أحلامِ

These endeavors, by analogy, O you who dissuade,

O you who forbid these efforts - measure them!

I was led to hope for them, though hopes are tangled bundles of dreams.

Its wishes and desires are worthless dreams

في دولةٍ قائم بالقِسْطِ قائمُها

في دولةٍ قائم بالقِسْطِ قائمُها

مَتينةِ المَتْنِ من رصْفٍ وإِحْكامِ

مَتينةِ المَتْنِ من رصْفٍ وإِحْكامِ

In a realm whose ruler upholds justice,

In a state upheld by justice and equity

Firm of backbone through tight fitting and sound construction.

Firm in foundation and strong framework

فالعِزُّ أقْعَسُ والآلاءُ ضاحكةٌ

فالعِزُّ أقْعَسُ والآلاءُ ضاحكةٌ

والظِلُّ ضافٍ ومسْعُودُ النَّدَى هامي

والظِلُّ ضافٍ ومسْعُودُ النَّدَى هامي

So glory is unassailable, and blessings smile;

Glory sits lowly and blessings smile

And shade is ample, and blessed bounty pours down.

Shade is plentiful and dew-kissed dawn roaming

ونَيّرُ الدِّينِ نورُ الدّين يرشُفها

ونَيّرُ الدِّينِ نورُ الدّين يرشُفها

ماءُ المُنَى مِن حفىً في جَوِّهِ الدَّامي

ماءُ المُنَى مِن حفىً في جَوِّهِ الدَّامي

And as for the faith’s luminary, Nur al-Din, it is sipped by

The light of faith makes faith’s path radiant

The water of hopes, out of solicitude, in his bloodied sky.

The water of wishes from talk in its flowing stream