ماهرُ السُلطَةُ في مِصرَ لها

ماهرُ السُلطَةُ في مِصرَ لها

صُوَرٌ تَسبى البَرايا زاهِيَه

صُوَرٌ تَسبى البَرايا زاهِيَه

Mahir, power in Egypt has

Skillful authority in Egypt has for it

Radiant forms that captivate humankind.

Images that make the deserts bloom

فازَ بالاولى سَعيدٌ إذ جَرى

فازَ بالاولى سَعيدٌ إذ جَرى

وَتَباطَأتَ فحُزتَ التَاليَه

وَتَباطَأتَ فحُزتَ التَاليَه

Sa'id won the first when he ran;

Sa'id won the first when he ran

And you tarried, so you gained the next.

And you lagged, so you got the next

لَو تَسَرَّعتَ وَوَسَّعتَ الخُطا

لَو تَسَرَّعتَ وَوَسَّعتَ الخُطا

نِلتَ أَولاها وَنالَ الثانِيَه

نِلتَ أَولاها وَنالَ الثانِيَه

Had you hastened and lengthened your strides,

Had you hurried and walked with longer strides

You would have won the first of them, and he the second.

You'd have gotten the first and he'd get the second