أَطَاشَ حِلْمَ الْحَلِيمِ

أَطَاشَ حِلْمَ الْحَلِيمِ

مُصَابُ عَبْدِ الْحَلِيمِ

مُصَابُ عَبْدِ الْحَلِيمِ

The forbearing man's composure was shattered

The patience of the forbearing cracked

by the loss of Abd al-Halim.

Stricken is the servant of the Forbearing

كَأَنَّ دَهْراً رَمَاهُ

كَأَنَّ دَهْراً رَمَاهُ

رَمَى الْعُلَى فِي الصَّمِيمِ

رَمَى الْعُلَى فِي الصَّمِيمِ

As though Time, in striking him,

As if fate had struck him down

had struck glory at its very heart.

Struck the exalted one in his innermost being

لُبْنَانُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الرَّزْ

لُبْنَانُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الرَّزْ

ءِ حِدَادٍ عَمِيمِ

ءِ حِدَادٍ عَمِيمِ

Lebanon, because of that calamity,

Lebanon for that calamity is clothed

is in widespread mourning

In all-encompassing mourning

عَلَى فَتىً كانَ يُرجَى

عَلَى فَتىً كانَ يُرجَى

فِيهِ لِشَأْنٍ عَظِيمِ

فِيهِ لِشَأْنٍ عَظِيمِ

for a young man of whom it was hoped

For a young man in whom was hoped

that he would rise to great distinction.

Great things for some noble aim

يُصَرِّفُ الأمْر بِالحَزْ

يُصَرِّفُ الأمْر بِالحَزْ

مِ وَالضَّمِيرِ الْقَوِيمِ

مِ وَالضَّمِيرِ الْقَوِيمِ

He managed affairs with firmness

Who governed affairs with determination and an upright conscience

and an upright conscience.

And Baalbek suffers the agonies

وَ بَعْلَبكُّ تُعَانِي

وَ بَعْلَبكُّ تُعَانِي

آلامَ خَطْبٍ جَسِيمِ

آلامَ خَطْبٍ جَسِيمِ

And Baalbek suffers

Of a grave misfortune

the pains of a grievous calamity

In the best of those she has known

فِي خَيْرِ مَنْ خَبَرَتْهُ

فِي خَيْرِ مَنْ خَبَرَتْهُ

مِنْ حَاكِمٍ وَحَكِيمِ

مِنْ حَاكِمٍ وَحَكِيمِ

for the best she has known

Ruler or wise man

as governor and sage.

He led the lands with resolved intent

سَاسَ الدِّيَارَ بِعَزْمٍ

سَاسَ الدِّيَارَ بِعَزْمٍ

مَاضٍ وَقَلْبٍ رَحِيمِ

مَاضٍ وَقَلْبٍ رَحِيمِ

He governed the land with resolve

And a compassionate heart

unwavering, and a merciful heart.

And was a bountiful rain and rescue

وَكَانَ غَيْثاً وَغَوْثاً

وَكَانَ غَيْثاً وَغَوْثاً

لِلْمُعْتَفِي وَالْهَضِيمِ

لِلْمُعْتَفِي وَالْهَضِيمِ

And he was life-giving rain and succor

For the downtrodden and oppressed

for the seeker of aid and the downtrodden.

I knew him as the most brilliant

عرَفْتُهُ أَلْمَعِيَّا

عرَفْتُهُ أَلْمَعِيَّا

فِي نَثْرِهِ والنَّظِيمِ

فِي نَثْرِهِ والنَّظِيمِ

I knew him to be brilliant

In his prose and verse

in his prose and verse,

Fertile gardens far from

خِصْبَ الْجَنَانِ بَعِيداً

خِصْبَ الْجَنَانِ بَعِيداً

عَنِ الْجُمُودِ الْعَقِيمِ

عَنِ الْجُمُودِ الْعَقِيمِ

fertile of heart, far removed

Sterile stagnation

from sterile stagnation.

Molding with the skill of a literary man

يَصُوغُ صَوْغَ أَدِيبٍ

يَصُوغُ صَوْغَ أَدِيبٍ

وَالْفِكْرُ فِكْرُ عَلِيمِ

وَالْفِكْرُ فِكْرُ عَلِيمِ

He shaped words with a writer's craft,

And the thought of a learned scholar

and his thought was that of a learned man.

What can I say about his refined

مَاذَا أُحَدِّثُ عَنْ ذَوْ

مَاذَا أُحَدِّثُ عَنْ ذَوْ

قِهِ الرَّفِيعِ السَّلِيمِ

قِهِ الرَّفِيعِ السَّلِيمِ

What can I say of his taste,

And pure nature

so refined and sound,

And the sincerity of his affection and pact

وصِدْقِ وُدٍّ وَعَهْدٍ

وصِدْقِ وُدٍّ وَعَهْدٍ

يَشِفُّ عَنْ طَهْرِ خِيمِ

يَشِفُّ عَنْ طَهْرِ خِيمِ

and the sincerity of affection and pledge

That reveals the purity of his character

that reveals the purity of his nature,

And dignity like mountains

وَعِزةٍ كَالرَّوَاسِي

وَعِزةٍ كَالرَّوَاسِي

وَرِقَّةٍ كَالنَّسِيمِ

وَرِقَّةٍ كَالنَّسِيمِ

and dignity like the steadfast mountains,

And gentleness like a breeze

and tenderness like the breeze,

And virtuous qualities

وَطَاهِرَاتِ سَجَايَا

وَطَاهِرَاتِ سَجَايَا

خُلِقْنَ لِلتَّكْرِيمِ

خُلِقْنَ لِلتَّكْرِيمِ

and pure traits of character

Created for glory

created to be honored?

My heart refuses consolation

يَأْبَى الُّسلُوَّ فُؤادِي

يَأْبَى الُّسلُوَّ فُؤادِي

بَعْدَ الصَّدِيقِ الْحَمِيمِ

بَعْدَ الصَّدِيقِ الْحَمِيمِ

My heart refuses solace

After the intimate friend

after losing my dear friend.

What ails every kin

مَا بَالُ كُلِّ قَرِيبٍ

مَا بَالُ كُلِّ قَرِيبٍ

لَهُ وَكُلِّ لَزِيمِ

لَهُ وَكُلِّ لَزِيمِ

How fares every kinsman

And companion of his

of his, and every constant companion?

God watch over your home

أللهُ جَارُكَ يَمِّمْ

أللهُ جَارُكَ يَمِّمْ

دَارَ الصَّفَاءِ المُقِيمِ

دَارَ الصَّفَاءِ المُقِيمِ

God is your protector; make for

In the lasting abode of purity

the abode of everlasting serenity.

Happy are those who receive

مَنْ أَسْعَدَ النَّاسِ لاقَى

مَنْ أَسْعَدَ النَّاسِ لاقَى

جَزَاءهُ فِي النَّعِيمِ

جَزَاءهُ فِي النَّعِيمِ

He who made people happy has found

Their reward in bliss

his reward in bliss.