يَا مَنْ يُؤَبِّنُ سَعْداً مَنْ تُؤَبِّنُهُ

يَا مَنْ يُؤَبِّنُ سَعْداً مَنْ تُؤَبِّنُهُ

هُوَ الْهُدَى وَالنَّدَى وَالبَأْسِ وَالشَّمَمُ

هُوَ الْهُدَى وَالنَّدَى وَالبَأْسِ وَالشَّمَمُ

O you who eulogize Saʿd, whom do you eulogize?

O you who mourn Saad, whom do you mourn?

He is guidance, generosity, valor, and noble pride.

He is guidance, brilliance, valor and determination.

هَيْهَاتَ تُوصَفُ بِالوَصْفِ الْخَلِيقِ بِهَا

هَيْهَاتَ تُوصَفُ بِالوَصْفِ الْخَلِيقِ بِهَا

تِلْكَ الْفضَائِلُ وَالآدَابُ وَالشِّيَمُ

تِلْكَ الْفضَائِلُ وَالآدَابُ وَالشِّيَمُ

Never can they be described in words worthy of them—

Alas! Those virtues and manners cannot be described.

Those virtues, manners, and noble traits.

That merit, etiquette and steadfastness.

مَال الْقَوْلُ فِي دَوْحَةٍ فَيَْنَانَةٍ سَقَطَتْ

مَال الْقَوْلُ فِي دَوْحَةٍ فَيَْنَانَةٍ سَقَطَتْ

وَمِنْ أَمَالِيدِهَا الإِحْسَانُ وَالكَرَمُ

وَمِنْ أَمَالِيدِهَا الإِحْسَانُ وَالكَرَمُ

Speech has turned to a luxuriant, spreading tree that has fallen,

No words for a palm tree that has fallen,

And among its tender branches are kindness and generosity.

Whose benevolence and generosity were exemplary.

كَأَنَّهَا غَيْضَةٌ مَجْمُوعَةٌ نَشِبَتْ

كَأَنَّهَا غَيْضَةٌ مَجْمُوعَةٌ نَشِبَتْ

فِيهَا المَنَايَا تُثَنِّهَا وَتَخْتَرِمُ

فِيهَا المَنَايَا تُثَنِّهَا وَتَخْتَرِمُ

As though it were a grove gathered into one, in which

As if it were a cluster plucked off,

Death has taken hold, bending it and cutting it down.

In which glory fades and withers away.

لَكِنَّنِي أَسْتَعينُ الله مُعْتَذِراً

لَكِنَّنِي أَسْتَعينُ الله مُعْتَذِراً

عَنِ القُصُورِ وَبَعْضِ العَجْزِ لا يَصِمُ

عَنِ القُصُورِ وَبَعْضِ العَجْزِ لا يَصِمُ

But I seek God's help, apologizing

Yet I seek God’s help, apologizing

For falling short—and some inability brings no disgrace.

For my shortcoming, though some weakness is incurable.