1. حَبذا ما بِهِ لَنا الدهر جادا

    من سرورٍ بِهِ فككنا الحدادا

    How welcome is what time has bestowed on us,

    the joy through which we cast off mourning.

  2. حبذا ما أَنا لنا من صَلاحٍ

    مخجلاً من نمى اليهِ الفسادا

    How welcome is the goodness that has come to us,

    shaming whoever ascribed corruption to it.

  3. قد حَبانا بسيدٍ لَيسَ يَدعو

    نا عَبيداً وانا اولادا

    It has favored us with a master who does not call

    us slaves, but rather children.

  4. سيدٌ شاد في المَعالي صروحاً

    قام فيهنَّ راقياً حيث سادا

    A master who built lofty edifices of glory,

    and stood within them, ascending to where he held sway.

  5. ربُّ حَزمٍ فكّاكُ مُعضِلةٍ من

    كلِ امرٍ تدبُّراً وَسَدادا

    A man of resolve, untangling the difficulties of

    every affair through deliberation and sound judgment.

  6. سرّ منا الأرواحَ كلَّ سرورٍ

    كلَّفت في اظهارِهِ الاجسادا

    He filled our souls with every joy;

    they charged our bodies with expressing it.

  7. فَفمٌ باسِمٌ لنا وَلِسانٌ

    هاتِفٌ يُنشِدُ الثنا انشادا

    So ours is a smiling mouth, and a tongue

    calling aloud, chanting praise in song.

  8. خَيرُ راعٍ يَرعى الرَعيَّة لا تخشى

    لديهِ حُملانُها الآسادا

    The finest shepherd tends his flock; no fear

    of lions have its lambs in his care.

  9. قل لِبَيروتَ في التَهاني رُوَيداً

    انَّ للدَهرِ مبدأ ومَعادا

    Tell Beirut, amid congratulations: be patient;

    time indeed has a beginning and a return.

  10. ان يكن مضَّكِ الزَمانُ بجرحٍ

    فهو هيّا لكلِ جرحٍ ضمادا

    If time has pained you with a wound,

    then it has prepared a dressing for every wound.

  11. اونكن عزَّيناكِ قبلاً فانّا

    لنُهنيكِ اذ بلغتِ المرادا

    Or if we consoled you before, we

    indeed congratulate you, since you have attained your wish,

  12. برئيسٍ تعنو الرؤوسُ لديهِ

    أَلِف الحَزمَ والتقى والرشادا

    with a leader before whom heads bow,

    accustomed to resolve, piety, and right guidance.

  13. يجمُد الماءُ حينَ يزجرهُ خو

    فاً ومنوعظهِ يذيبُ الجمادا

    Water freezes when he rebukes it, out of

    fear; and with his admonition he melts solid matter.

  14. باهرٍ فطنةً فصيحٍ لساناً

    نابِغٍ همَّةً حصيفٍ فؤادا

    Brilliant in insight, eloquent of tongue,

    outstanding in aspiration, judicious of heart,

  15. يملأُ العينَ بهجةً حينما يب

    دو وَيملا آذاننا إِرشادا

    he fills the eye with delight whenever he

    appears, and fills our ears with guidance.

  16. لفظهُ العسجد المُذاب ولا بد

    عَ فما زالَ فكرهُ وقّادا

    His speech is molten gold, and no

    wonder, for his mind remains ablaze.

  17. أيُّها السيِّدُ الكَريمُ الَّذي لَي

    سَ يفيهِ الثناءُ مهما تمادى

    O noble master, whom no

    praise can do justice to, however far it goes,

  18. ان مدحناكَ نالَنا المدحُ ايضاً

    كالصَدى راجِعاً الى من نادى

    if we praise you, that praise reaches us as well,

    like an echo returning to whoever called.

  19. بك يَسمو فخارنا فإذا ازدد

    تَ فخاراً ففخرنا قد زادا

    Through you our glory rises; whenever you grow

    in glory, our glory has indeed grown.

  20. فاذا كانَ في الثناءِ قصورٌ

    فَعلينا قصورنا قد عادا

    So if there is a shortcoming in our praise,

    then our shortcoming has come back upon us.