يَدْعُوكَ مُعْتَل وَأَنْتَ بَعِيدُ

يَدْعُوكَ مُعْتَل وَأَنْتَ بَعِيدُ

بِالأَمْسِ كُنْتَ تَعُودُهُ وَتعِيد

بِالأَمْسِ كُنْتَ تَعُودُهُ وَتعِيد

An ailing man calls to you while you are far away.

An ailing man calls to you, while you are far away.

Until yesterday, you would visit him and renew

Yesterday you would visit him and return.

عَزَّ الْعَزَاءُ عَلَى السَّقِيمْ يَلُج فِي

عَزَّ الْعَزَاءُ عَلَى السَّقِيمْ يَلُج فِي

نَسَمَاتِهِ التَّصوِيبُ وَالتَّصعِيدُ

نَسَمَاتِهِ التَّصوِيبُ وَالتَّصعِيدُ

the sick man's dearest consolation; into him would enter

Consolation eludes the sick man, whose

its breaths of healing and encouragement.

breaths are filled with sinking and rising.

أَأَبَا المُروُءَةِ إِنَّ خَطْبَكَ خَطْبُهَا

أَأَبَا المُروُءَةِ إِنَّ خَطْبَكَ خَطْبُهَا

أَوْ لَمْ تُفَارِقْهَا وَأَنْتَ شَهِيدُ

أَوْ لَمْ تُفَارِقْهَا وَأَنْتَ شَهِيدُ

O father of chivalry, truly your affliction is hers;

O father of nobility, your calamity is indeed hers.

or did you not leave her when you became a martyr?

Or have you not parted from her, a martyr?

تُشْفَى الجُسُومُ وَبَعْدَ نَأْيِكَ أَنْفُسٌ

تُشْفَى الجُسُومُ وَبَعْدَ نَأْيِكَ أَنْفُسٌ

لاَ النَّوْحُ يُشْفِيهَا وَلاَ التَّنْهيدُ

لاَ النَّوْحُ يُشْفِيهَا وَلاَ التَّنْهيدُ

You healed bodies; after your departure, souls remain

Bodies heal, but after your departure there are souls

that neither wailing nor sighing can heal.

that neither wailing nor sighing can heal.

رَزَأَتْكَ طَائِفَةٌ يُحَارُ مُحِبُّها

رَزَأَتْكَ طَائِفَةٌ يُحَارُ مُحِبُّها

أَنَّى يُعَزِّيَهَا وَأَنْتَ فَقِيد

أَنَّى يُعَزِّيَهَا وَأَنْتَ فَقِيد

A community has been bereft of you; its devoted lover stands bewildered:

A community has lost you; one who loves it is at a loss

how can he console it when you are the one it has lost?

how to console it, now that you are gone.

كَانَتْ بِعَهْدِكَ أُسرَةَ قَوَّمْتَهَا

كَانَتْ بِعَهْدِكَ أُسرَةَ قَوَّمْتَهَا

فَنَمَتْ وَمَا بِفُرُوعِهَا تَأْوِيدُ

فَنَمَتْ وَمَا بِفُرُوعِهَا تَأْوِيدُ

In your time it was a family you set upright;

In your time it was a family you set upright;

it grew, with no crookedness in its branches.

it grew, with no bending in its branches.

وَبَكى بِكَ الأُرْدُنُ أَحْصَفَ عَامِلٍ

وَبَكى بِكَ الأُرْدُنُ أَحْصَفَ عَامِلٍ

لِرُقِيِّه مَا يُسْتَزَادُ يَزِيد

لِرُقِيِّه مَا يُسْتَزَادُ يَزِيد

Jordan, too, wept for you—its most judicious administrator—

And Jordan wept for you, its most discerning worker,

for its advancement: whenever more was asked, he gave more.

for its advancement, adding whatever more was sought.

رَاعٍ تَخَيَّرَ خِطَّة فَغَدَا بِهَا

رَاعٍ تَخَيَّرَ خِطَّة فَغَدَا بِهَا

وَمِثَالُهُ بَيْنَ الرُّعَاةِ فَرِيدُ

وَمِثَالُهُ بَيْنَ الرُّعَاةِ فَرِيدُ

A shepherd who chose a course and advanced upon it,

A shepherd who chose a course and followed it,

his example among leaders peerless;

with his example unique among shepherds.

عَلاَّمَةٌ بَحَّاثَةٌ مُتَضَلِّعٌ

عَلاَّمَةٌ بَحَّاثَةٌ مُتَضَلِّعٌ

مَنْ دَأْبُهُ التَّصوِيبُ وَالتَّسدِيدُ

مَنْ دَأْبُهُ التَّصوِيبُ وَالتَّسدِيدُ

a great scholar, deeply learned while still young,

An erudite scholar, tireless researcher, deeply versed,

whose constant habit was healing and sound guidance.

whose constant practice was correction and sound guidance.

فِي كُتْبِهِ لِلْعُرْبِ تَارِيخُ بِهِ

فِي كُتْبِهِ لِلْعُرْبِ تَارِيخُ بِهِ

يُجْلَى الْعَتِيدُ وَلاَ يَغِيبُ عَهِيدُ

يُجْلَى الْعَتِيدُ وَلاَ يَغِيبُ عَهِيدُ

In his books the Arabs have a history by which

In his books the Arabs have a history through which

the future grows clear, while no long-familiar past disappears.

the present is revealed, and the past is not lost.

تُرْثِي صُرُوحُ الْخَيْرِ بَانِيَهَا الذي

تُرْثِي صُرُوحُ الْخَيْرِ بَانِيَهَا الذي

لَمْ يَدَّخِرْ فِيهَا لَهُ مَجْهُودُ

لَمْ يَدَّخِرْ فِيهَا لَهُ مَجْهُودُ

The monuments of goodness mourn their builder, who

The edifices of goodness mourn their builder, who

withheld from them none of his own endeavor,

spared none of his effort on them.

وَالى رِعَايَتَهَا وَفِي أَيَّامِهِ

وَالى رِعَايَتَهَا وَفِي أَيَّامِهِ

لِمْ يُبْطَلِ التَّأسِيسُ وَالتَّشييد

لِمْ يُبْطَلِ التَّأسِيسُ وَالتَّشييد

nor from tending them; throughout his days,

He kept up his care for them, and in his days

founding and construction never ceased.

founding and building were never halted.

فَاليَوْمُ إِنْ لَمْ يَبْكِهِ عُقَبٌ لَهُ

فَاليَوْمُ إِنْ لَمْ يَبْكِهِ عُقَبٌ لَهُ

فَمِنَ الأُولى رَبَّى بَكَاهُ عَدِيدُ

فَمِنَ الأُولى رَبَّى بَكَاهُ عَدِيدُ

Today, if no descendants of his weep for him,

So today, if no offspring of his weeps for him,

many among those he reared are there to mourn him.

many of those he raised have wept for him.

كَمْ نَشَّأ النِشءَ الضَّعيفَ وَصَانَهُ

كَمْ نَشَّأ النِشءَ الضَّعيفَ وَصَانَهُ

فَأُعِدَّ جِيلٌ لِلْبلادِ جَدِيدُ

فَأُعِدَّ جِيلٌ لِلْبلادِ جَدِيدُ

How many weak young people he nurtured and protected,

How many frail young people he nurtured and protected!

preparing them as a new generation for the land.

Thus a new generation was prepared for the country.

ترْثِي الحَصَافَةُ وَالثَّقَافَةُ وَالتقَى

ترْثِي الحَصَافَةُ وَالثَّقَافَةُ وَالتقَى

مَنْ عَاشَ لاَ ذَمٌ وَلاَ تَفْنِيدُ

مَنْ عَاشَ لاَ ذَمٌ وَلاَ تَفْنِيدُ

Prudence, culture, and piety mourn

Prudence, learning, and piety mourn

one who lived without blame or disparagement.

one who lived without blame or censure.

هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ تُنْسَى مَنَاقِبُهُ الَّتي

هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ تُنْسَى مَنَاقِبُهُ الَّتي

فِي كُلِّ نَادٍ فَاحَ مِنْهَا عُودُ

فِي كُلِّ نَادٍ فَاحَ مِنْهَا عُودُ

Far be it that his virtues be forgotten—virtues

Far be it that his virtues should be forgotten—

whose aloeswood fragrance wafted from them in every gathering.

their aloeswood fragrance wafted through every gathering.

أَيْنَ الصَّدَاقَةُ لاَ مُدَاجَاةٌ بِهَا

أَيْنَ الصَّدَاقَةُ لاَ مُدَاجَاةٌ بِهَا

وَالْجَوْدُ أَنْفَعُ مَا يَكُونُ الجُوْدُ

وَالْجَوْدُ أَنْفَعُ مَا يَكُونُ الجُوْدُ

Where now is friendship free of dissimulation,

Where is friendship with no dissembling in it,

and generosity at the moment generosity does most good?

and generosity at its most beneficial?

آدَابُ حِبْرٍ لاَ يَخَالِفُ عَهْدَه

آدَابُ حِبْرٍ لاَ يَخَالِفُ عَهْدَه

وَعَنِ السَّبيلِ القَصْدِ لَيْسَ يَحيدُ

وَعَنِ السَّبيلِ القَصْدِ لَيْسَ يَحيدُ

The cultivated manners of a scholar who never broke his pledge

The conduct of a learned man who never breaks his pledge,

and never strayed from the straight, measured path.

and never strays from the straight path.

تِلْكَ الْفَضَائِلُ بَلَّغَتْهُ مَكَانَةً

تِلْكَ الْفَضَائِلُ بَلَّغَتْهُ مَكَانَةً

عَزَّتْ وَكَانَ بِهَا لَهُ تَمْهِيدُ

عَزَّتْ وَكَانَ بِهَا لَهُ تَمْهِيدُ

Those virtues brought him to an exalted station,

Those virtues brought him to a rank

while through them his way was eased.

of rare distinction, and through them his way was paved.

أَدْنَاهُ عَبْدُ اللهِ مِنْهُ فَبَاتَ فِي

أَدْنَاهُ عَبْدُ اللهِ مِنْهُ فَبَاتَ فِي

نُعْمَى وَطَالِعُهُ لَدَيْهِ سَعِيدُ

نُعْمَى وَطَالِعُهُ لَدَيْهِ سَعِيدُ

Abdullah drew him near to himself, and so he dwelt

Abdullah drew him close to himself, and he lived in

in favor at his court, his star auspicious.

prosperity, with good fortune in his presence.

هَلْ مِثْلُ عَبْدِ اللهِ في أَهْلِ النهَى

هَلْ مِثْلُ عَبْدِ اللهِ في أَهْلِ النهَى

مَلِكٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالأُمُورِ رَشِيدُ

مَلِكٌ بَصِيرٌ بِالأُمُورِ رَشِيدُ

Is there anyone like Abdullah among men of understanding—

Is there among people of understanding one like Abdullah,

a clear-sighted king, judicious in affairs?

a king perceptive in affairs and wise?

بِحُسَامِهِ وَبِرَأْيهِ بَلِّغَ الذُّرَى

بِحُسَامِهِ وَبِرَأْيهِ بَلِّغَ الذُّرَى

فَخْراً فَمَا يَسْمُو إِلَيْهِ نَدِيدُ

فَخْراً فَمَا يَسْمُو إِلَيْهِ نَدِيدُ

With his sword and his counsel he attained the summits

With his sword and his judgment he reached the summits

of glory, where no rival rises to his height.

of glory; no rival rises to his level.

وَبِبَأْسِهِ فِي الْحَرْبِ أَثْبَتَ أَنَّهُ

وَبِبَأْسِهِ فِي الْحَرْبِ أَثْبَتَ أَنَّهُ

بَطَلُ الجِهَادِ البَاسِلُ الصِّندِيدُ

بَطَلُ الجِهَادِ البَاسِلُ الصِّندِيدُ

By his valor in war he proved himself

And with his might in war he proved that he was

the brave, stout-hearted champion of the struggle.

the valiant, dauntless hero of the struggle.

كَائِنْ لَهُ وَلآلِهِ دَيْنٌ عَلَى

كَائِنْ لَهُ وَلآلِهِ دَيْنٌ عَلَى

أَوْطَانِهِمْ وَالعالِمُونَ شُهُودُ

أَوْطَانِهِمْ وَالعالِمُونَ شُهُودُ

How great a debt is owed to him and to his House by

A debt is owed to him and his family by

their homelands—and those who know bear witness.

their homelands, and those who know bear witness.

لَوْ لَمْ يَنَلْ اسْمَى الْفَخَارِ بِنَفْسِهِ

لَوْ لَمْ يَنَلْ اسْمَى الْفَخَارِ بِنَفْسِهِ

لَكَفَاهُ آبَاءٌ سَمَوا وَجُدُودُ

لَكَفَاهُ آبَاءٌ سَمَوا وَجُدُودُ

Even had he not himself attained the name of glory,

Had he not attained the highest glory by himself,

illustrious fathers and forefathers would have sufficed him.

his exalted fathers and forefathers would have sufficed him.

يَا أَيُّها الْمُحِيونَ ذِكْرَى بُولُسَ

يَا أَيُّها الْمُحِيونَ ذِكْرَى بُولُسَ

هَذَا التَّحدُّثُ بِالحَمِيدِ حَمِيدُ

هَذَا التَّحدُّثُ بِالحَمِيدِ حَمِيدُ

O you who keep Boulos's memory alive,

O you who keep the memory of Bulus alive,

such praise of one praiseworthy is itself praiseworthy.

this talk of the praiseworthy is itself praiseworthy.

هَلْ ضَمَّ حَفْلٌ مِنْ أَكَابِرِ أُمَّةٍ

هَلْ ضَمَّ حَفْلٌ مِنْ أَكَابِرِ أُمَّةٍ

مَا ضَمَّ مِنْهُمْ حَفْلُهُ الْمَشْهُودُ

مَا ضَمَّ مِنْهُمْ حَفْلُهُ الْمَشْهُودُ

Has any gathering ever assembled a nation's great men

Has any gathering brought together, from a nation's great men,

as fully as his renowned funeral gathered them?

as many as his well-attended gathering brought together?

وَبِهِ الائِمَّة وَالْوَلاَةُ وَكُلُّ مَنْ

وَبِهِ الائِمَّة وَالْوَلاَةُ وَكُلُّ مَنْ

فِي قَوْمِهِ هُوَ سَيِّدٌ وَعَمِيدُ

فِي قَوْمِهِ هُوَ سَيِّدٌ وَعَمِيدُ

Within it were religious leaders and governors, and everyone

In it are religious leaders and governors, and everyone who

among his people who is a lord and pillar.

among his people is a leader and a chief.

وَافَوْا لِيَقْضُوهُ الوَدَاعَ فَمَا تَرَى

وَافَوْا لِيَقْضُوهُ الوَدَاعَ فَمَا تَرَى

إِلاَّ وُفُودٌ تَلْوَهُنَّ وُفُودُ

إِلاَّ وُفُودٌ تَلْوَهُنَّ وُفُودُ

They came in throngs to bid him farewell, until you saw

They came to bid him farewell; you see

nothing but delegation following delegation.

only delegations followed by delegations.

فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَفِي النَّصارَى مَالَهُ

فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَفِي النَّصارَى مَالَهُ

إِلاَّ وَليٌّ صَادِقٌ وَوَدُودُ

إِلاَّ وَليٌّ صَادِقٌ وَوَدُودُ

Among Muslims and Christians alike, he had

Among Muslims and among Christians, he has none

only loyal, sincere, loving friends.

but sincere and loving friends.

يَا مَنْ نُوَدِّعُهُ أَنْجْزَعُ لِلنَّوَى

يَا مَنْ نُوَدِّعُهُ أَنْجْزَعُ لِلنَّوَى

وَالأَمْرُ أَمْرُ اللهِ حِيْنَ يُريدُ

وَالأَمْرُ أَمْرُ اللهِ حِيْنَ يُريدُ

O you whom we bid farewell, shall we grieve at parting

O you whom we bid farewell, shall we grieve at separation,

when the command is God's command, whenever He wills?

when the decree is God's decree, whenever He wills?

مَنْ خَصَّ مِثْلُكَ بِالْمُرُوءَةِ عُمْرَهُ

مَنْ خَصَّ مِثْلُكَ بِالْمُرُوءَةِ عُمْرَهُ

فَلِذِكْرِهِ الإِكْرَامُ وَالتَّخلِيدُ

فَلِذِكْرِهِ الإِكْرَامُ وَالتَّخلِيدُ

One who, like you, devoted his lifetime to chivalrous virtue—

Whoever, like you, devoted his life to nobility—

his memory is owed honor and perpetuation.

his memory deserves honor and immortality.

جَزَعْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ يُنْعَى بِبُكْرَةٍ

جَزَعْتُ لِعَبْدِ اللهِ يُنْعَى بِبُكْرَةٍ

وَلاَ عُوِّضَ عَنْه وَلَيْسَ لَه نَدٌ

وَلاَ عُوِّضَ عَنْه وَلَيْسَ لَه نَدٌ

I grieved for Abdullah when his death was announced at dawn;

I grieved for Abdullah, whose death was announced at dawn;

there is no replacing him, nor has he any peer.

nor has his loss been made good, and he has no equal.

تَفَرَّدَ فِي مِصْرَ أَدِيباً وَعَالِماً

تَفَرَّدَ فِي مِصْرَ أَدِيباً وَعَالِماً

فَوَا حَرَّبَا أَنْ يَهْوَيَ العَلَمَ الْفَرْدُ

فَوَا حَرَّبَا أَنْ يَهْوَيَ العَلَمَ الْفَرْدُ

He stood unrivaled in Egypt as a man of letters and a scholar—

He stood alone in Egypt as a man of letters and a scholar.

alas, what calamity, that the peerless standard should fall!

Ah, what anguish that the peerless standard should fall!

فُجِعْنَا بِهِ لاَ يُحْمَد الْعَيْشُ بَعْدَه

فُجِعْنَا بِهِ لاَ يُحْمَد الْعَيْشُ بَعْدَه

فَرُحْمَاكَ يَا رَبِّي لَه وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

فَرُحْمَاكَ يَا رَبِّي لَه وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

His loss has bereaved us; life after him brings no joy.

We were stricken by his loss; life after him merits no praise.

Then Your mercy, O my Lord, be upon him; and praise is Yours.

So grant him Your mercy, O my Lord; to You belongs praise.