بغداد دام أنسها وبشرها

عاد إليها مجدها وفخرها

Baghdad, may its intimacy last, and may its good tidings return

Its glory and pride have come back to it

من بعد ما كادت وحاشا مجدها

من الخمول ان يبيد ذكرها

After its glory had nearly faded

And its fame was about to perish from negligence

ولم تزل نحوسها مظلمة

حتى اضاء بالسعود بدرها

Its misfortunes had long been dark

Until the full moon of Al Saud illuminated it

واستنهضت احرار صدق نهضت

كانها الآساد درّ درّها

And the truly free arose with determination

As if they were roaring lions

فجرّدت عزائماً وشيدت

مكارماً يسمو ويعلو قدرها

They girded their loins and built

Nobilities that ascend high and raise its value

فلا تخادع مستبداً نفسه

فما يسود اليوم الا حرّها

So do not let your soul be fooled by a tyrant

For none rules today except the free among its people

يا مستبدّ الرأي ولى زمن

أنت على رغم المعالي صدرها

O you with stubborn opinions, times have changed

Despite grandeur, it sighs heavily

انك معذور إذا رمت العلى

لكنما العلياء كيف عذرها

You are excused if you aspire for greatness

But how can the exalted be excused?

لا تبك الا زمناً قد انقضى

بنعمة كان قصيراً عمرها

Only weep for a time now past

With bounty that was short-lived

ما شكرتك حاجة قضيتها

وكان ابقى لو علمت شكرها

No need of yours have you thanked it for

It would have lasted longer had you known thankfulness

ان طباع السوء مذ تقسمت

اصبح فيك لؤمها وكبرها

Indeed when bad manners spread

Meanness and arrogance filled you

فدع ميادين السباق للألى

يحسن فيها جريها وكرّها

So leave the race courses for the noble

Who run well in it, charge and attack

مكاتب قد نظمت قلائداً

يزين اجياد الكمال درّها

Offices have been organized like necklaces

Adorning them are the best of deeds

كأنها الرياض يجنى زهرها

كانها الأفلاك تجلى زهرها

As if they were gardens with flowers harvested

Or planets with shining stars

والجعفري المكتب الذي به

من العلوم الغرّ ما يسرها

And the Jafari office where

The pearls of knowledge delight them

فيه من الاحرار فتية سمت

همتها وعقلها وفكرها

In it are noble youths whose ambitions

And minds and thoughts are sublime

كل ذكي قبست فكرته

نار ذكاء لا يبوخ جمرها

Every bright mind kindles

A fire of brilliance that does not die down

قد وطدت اساسه عصابة

موفر عند الاله اجرها

Its foundations have been laid down by a band

Whose reward is guaranteed by God

لهم إلى بيض المساعي طرب

تروقهم نشوتها وسكرها

To them, the efforts of the righteous are a joy

Bringing them delight and intoxication

فهم خليقون بكل مدحة

يجلى عليهم نظمها ونثرها

They deserve every word of praise

Prose or poetry that reveals their light

هبوا بني الأحرار واغنموا العلى

فقد تشوقت إليكم غرّها

Rise, O free men, and attain the heights

For its luxury desires you

وفي طلاب العز جدّوا واصبروا

ان زعيم الطالبين صبرها

And in seeking honor, persevere and be patient

For the leader of seekers has patience

فانما الدنيا بعلم وحجى

ان فقدا لم يغن شيئا وفرها

The world only lasts with knowledge and discourse

Without them, nothing else avails or substitutes