لولا أبو الفرج الهُمام لما

وجد الرجاءُ إلى المنى سُبلا

Were it not for Abu al-Faraj al-Humam,

Hope would not have found paths to fulfillment.

أضحَى يُفَرِّقُ من مواهِبه

شملاً ويجمع للعًلا شَملا

He gives generously of his gifts,

Uniting kinship ties and gathering noble traits.

جورٌ على الأموال عاد وقد

عمَّ العُفاةَ بنيله عَدلا

Oppression of wealth has passed, since

His justice has encompassed the destitute.

وله إذا ما المشكلات عَدَت

فهم يكون لعقدها حَلاّ

When difficulties multiply,

His understanding unravels their knots.

نَغدوا فنغنم من مواهبه

جزلا ومن آدابه جزلا

We live well, profiting from his gifts

Abundantly, and from his manners nobly.

وتراهُ منفرداً بغايته

في الفضل إن جدَّا وإن هَزلا

You see him excelling by himself

In merit, jesting or serious.

وترى تطوُّلَه ونائله

غضّ الشَّباب وحلمَه كهلا

You see his aspiring and his attainment,

Despite youthful ardour and aged forbearance.

وتودُّ أيدي المجد لو جعلت

خدَّ الحسود لرجله نَعلا

The hands of glory would make

The cheek of his envier his sandal.

تلقاهم الآمالُ كاسِفة

وتعود عند لقائه جذلى

Hopes meet him downcast

And leave his company uplifted.

ما عاقه عن نيل مكرمة

شيء يقال لأجله لولا

Nothing has prevented him from gaining esteem

That might be said to be an obstacle.

كثرت فما تحصى مناقبُه

من ذا يَعُدُّ القطرَ والرملا

His merits are many, beyond counting -

Who can tally drops of rain and grains of sand?

ما فيه للعُذال من طمعٍ

غلب السماحُ عليه واستولى

The wretched have no hope in him,

Generosity has conquered and prevailed in him.

ما زلتُ أبدع في محاسنه

قولاً ويُبدع في الندى فعلا

I continue to pioneer in praising his virtues,

In both poetry and sincere action.

تُملي واستملي فواضله

ما الفضل إلاّ للذي أملي

Dictate and transcribe his outstanding qualities,

For merit belongs only to one who dictates.

للهِ آل الموقفيّ فما

أعلى صنائعهم وما أحلى

May God protect the house of Muwaqqif,

So lofty in achievements, so beautiful in manner.

طُبِعُوا على كرم الخلال فلا

عِيَّا ترى فيهم ولا بُخلا

They are of a nature most generous and benign,

No shame or stinginess is seen in them.

إن المساعي غير ناصرة

من ليس ينصر فرعُه الأصلا

Efforts alone do not bring success,

Unless the branch is aided by its root.

يبغي العُلا متجشما خلقا

فيروح مرسوما به عقلا

One seeks the heights with excellent character,

Then soars with a mind thus inscribed.

من لم يقابل حسن لبّته

حسن الحلي غدا به عطلا

One whose refined exterior does not match

An equally refined heart soon falls idle.

ملكت عنان العُرف منك يد

لا تعرف التسويف والمطلا

The reins of convention are held by your hand,

Which knows no procrastination or negligence.

لو أنّها للغيث ما تركت

جَدبآ ببلقعةٍ ولا محلا

If it were rain, it would leave no land

Barren, parched, or empty.

فاهنأ بهذا العيد وابق له

ما زار مشتاقاً وماولّى

Congratulations on this feast - remain

For one who visits in longing and leaves.

لا تسلب الدنيا الجمال بمن

سُوَرُ المديح بذكره تتلى

Let not the world rob beauty from one

Whose praise in verse is recited.