أَقِلّا مَلامي فَالحَديثُ طَويلُ

وَمِن عادَةٍ أَلّا يُطاعَ عَذولُ

Blame me less, for talk would be prolonged,

Lessen your reproach of me, for the story is long,

And the obstinate are not wont to comply,

And it is not the custom that a scold be obeyed.

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَفرِج لَهُ الشَكَّ عَزمُهُ

وَلَم يَستَبِدَّ الأَمرَ فَهوَ ضَئيل

When a man's will does not dispel his doubts,

If a man's resolve does not dispel his doubt,

Nor does he take the matter into his hands, his endeavour is puny,

And he does not take command of the matter, he is diminished.

وَما اِستَنزَلَتني صَبوَةٌ عَن صِيانَةٍ

وَلكِنَّني مَع عِفَّتي سَأَقول

No downpour has made me fail to protect my honour,

Youthful passion did not drag me down from my dignity,

But I will say, together with my chastity:

But I, despite my chastity, shall speak.

رَعى اللَهُ جيرانَ الشَبابِ وَعَهدَهُ

وَرَوّاهُ مِن نوءِ السِماكِ سَجيلُ

May God protect the neighbours of youth and its pact,

May God guard the neighbors of my youth and its covenant,

Watering it from the evil of cold stars.

And may the pouring rain of the Spica star quench its thirst.

فَقَد كانَ لي فيهِ إِلى الأُنسِ مَسرَحٌ

وَقَد كانَ لي فيهِ سُرىً وَمَقيلُ

It has been to me a place of joy for company

For I used to have therein a pasture for intimacy,

And a resting place for me has it been, and a harbour.

And I used to have therein night journeys and midday rest.

مَعاهِدُ أَفراحٍ وَمَوطِنُ لَذَّةٍ

إِذِ العَيشُ غَضٌّ وَالزَمانُ غفولُ

Abode of joys and seat of pleasure

Abodes of joy and a homeland of pleasure,

When living is fresh and time heedless.

When life was fresh and time was unmindful of us.

فَدَع ذِكرَ أَيّامِ الشَبابِ وَطيبِهِ

فَما حالَةٌ إِلّا وَسَوفَ تَحولُ

Then leave talk of the days of youth and its goodness,

So leave the mention of the days of youth and its sweetness,

Every state but turns over.

For there is no state but that it will eventually change.

وَقُل حَبَّذا وَخدُ الرَكائِبِ بِالضُحى

إِذا اِخرَوَّطَت بَعدَ الحُزونِ سُهول

And say how excellent are the cheeks of riders at dawn

And say: How lovely is the trot of camels in the forenoon,

When they swarm after gloom over the plateau!

When the plains extend rapidly after the rugged terrain.

وَيا حَبَّا تَهويمَةٌ تَحتَ ضالَةٍ

إِذا قيلَ فيءُ الظُهرِ كادَ يَميلُ

And O love! A delirium under a straying

And how lovely is a light slumber beneath a wild lote tree,

When it is said the noonSiesta draws nigh.

When it is said the afternoon shadow is about to slant.

وَتَمزيقُ جَلباتِ الظَلامِ إِذا سَجى

بِعيسٍ نَماها شَدقَمٌ وَجَديلُ

And the rending of the veils of darkness when night comes,

And the tearing of the cloaks of darkness when it settles,

Stirred by a lively youth made slender by love!

By white camels bred by the sires Shadqam and Jadil.

تُناهِبُ أَجوازَ الفَلا بِمَناسِمٍ

لِصُمِّ الحَصى مِن وَقعِهِنَّ صَليلُ

They snatch the horses of valour with festivals

They vie to cross the desert centers with their pads,

At the stillness of the pebbles from their hooves ringing.

Making the hard pebbles ring from their impact.

يُفَضِّضُ مُرفَضُّ اللُغامِ خُدودَها

كَما ذَهَّبَت أَخفافُهُنَّ هُجول

The bared one of the stallions bares their cheeks,

The scattered foam silvers their cheeks,

As their swift mares pace along unheld.

Just as the barren lands have gilded their hooves.

نَؤُمُّ بِها البَيتَ الحَرامَ لَعَلَّهُ

يُحَطُّ بهِ وِزرٌ هُناكَ ثَقيل

By them we gain merit towards the Sacred House; haply

We aim with them toward the Sacred House, that perhaps

A heavy crime there may be pardoned.

A heavy burden of sin may be lifted there.

هُوَ الحرَمُ الأَمنُ الذي مَن يَحُلُّهُ

فَلَيسَ لِذي حِقدٍ عَلَيهِ سَبيلُ

It is the inviolate sanctuary wherein whoso enters

It is the secure Sanctuary; whoever settles within it,

No foeman has means of access unto him.

No man of malice has any way against him.

فَكَم عَثرَةٍ فيهِ تُقالُ وَتائِبٍ

يُحَطُّ مِنَ الأَوزارِ عَنهُ حُمولُ

How many a stumbling whereat "Forgive!' is said

How many a slip is forgiven therein, and from a repentant one,

And the burdens are lifted from the sinner.

Loads of sins are lifted away.

وَكَم عَبرَةٍ فيهِ تُذالُ وَزَفرَةٍ

لَها وَهَجٌ بَينَ الضُلوعِ دَخيلُ

And how many a weeping whereat firm resolve dissolves

And how many a tear is shed therein, and a sigh

And sighs that in the breast smoulder!

That holds an inner burning between the ribs.

فَمُنَّ إِلهي بِالقَبولِ عَلى الذي

أَتى زائِراً فَالفَضلُ مِنكَ جِزيلُ

Then, my God, be gracious in accepting him that comes

So grant, my God, acceptance to the one

A visitant; for grace is from Thee plenteous.

Who came visiting, for Your bounty is abundant.

وَحُط دينَنا وَاِنصُرهُ نَصراً مُؤَيَّداً

بِمَن رَايُهُ في المُسلِمينَ جَميلُ

And guard our faith, and aid it with confirmed aid

And protect our religion and grant it a supported victory,

Through him whose banner to the Muslims is comely;

Through one whose repute among the Muslims is beautiful.

بِمَن كانَ لِلدُنيا وَلِلدّينِ راعِياً

بِسُمرِ العَوالي حَيثُ قامَ دَليلُ

Through him who of world and religion has been guardian,

Through one who has been a shepherd to the world and the faith,

At the sublime heights where evidence arose.

With brown spears standing as proof where he stood.

أَصيلُ الحِجى ماضي العَزيمَةِ مالَهُ

إِذا هَمَّ إِلّا المَشرَفِيُّ خَليلُ

Sincere of proof, resolved in his resolve, none gainsays him

Of noble intellect, sharp determination; he has

Save by his decree the Friend.

No close friend when he intends a deed but the Mashrafiyya sword.

يُجاهِدُ دونَ الخَلقِ في اللَهِ طالِباً

رِضاهُ وَيَعفو عَنهُمُ وَيُنيلُ

He struggles in God's way claiming but His good pleasure,

He strives in defense of creation for the sake of God, seeking

pardoning them; unto them He gentle is.

His pleasure, pardoning them and bestowing gifts.

وَيَركَبُ أَخطارَ المَهلِكِ عالِماً

بِأَنَّ المَعالي دونَهُنَّ وُحولُ

And dares the deadly perils knowing that beyond them

He rides the dangers of destruction, knowing

Glory lies;-all else here below is false.

That high honors are surrounded by mire.

أَقامَ مَنارَ الشَرعِ في الشَرقِ وَاِغتَدَت

إِلى الغَربِ مِنهُ هِمَّةٌ وَصُؤولُ

He founded the standard of law in the East,and valour

He established the lighthouse of Law in the East, and there went

From him towards the West extended aspiring.

Toward the West, from him, ambition and assault.

وَجَلَّلَ وَجهَ وَجهَ الأَرضِ خُفّاً وَحافِراً

نُجومُ سَماهُ ذُبَّلٌ وَنُصولُ

And he gave the faces of earth's surface honour and pride By his steeds and his swords white banners bore.

He covered the face of the earth with camel pads and hooves;

So he came at the religion's vengeance 'gainst every rebel,

The stars of his sky were spearheads and arrow tips.

فَأَدرَكَ ثَأَرَ الدينِ مِن كُلِّ مارِقٍ

وَأَحيا رُسومَ المَجدِ وَهيَ طُلولُ

and revived the forms of glory now past and gone

He exacted the vengeance of religion from every renegade,

And cleansed God's House from each heretic's taint;

And revived the traces of glory which had become ruins.

وَطَهَّرَ بَيتَ اللَهِ مِن كُلَّ بِدعَةٍ

أَكَبَّ عَلَيها مُدَّعٍ وَجَهولُ

Upon them fuIminates scholar and ignorant.

He purified the House of God from every innovation

Thus the face of truth shone bright while error's visage

To which pretenders and the ignorant were devoted.

فَأَصبَحَ وَجهُ الحَقِّ جَذلانَ باسِماً

وَأَصبَحَ في وَجهِ الضَلالِ ذُبول

paled;

So the face of Truth became joyful and smiling,

Right was firm, wrong failed.

And in the face of Error appeared a withering.

وَمَن يَكُ دينُ اللَهِ سائِسَ أَمرِهِ

وَيَنبَعُ قالَ اللَهُ قالَ رَسولُ

Whoso makes God's law govern his rule, and says only

For whoever makes the religion of God the manager of his affair,

"God saith" and "The Apostle has spoken in truth

And follows 'God said' and 'The Messenger said,'

فَأَحرِ بِهِ أَن يَبلُغَ السُؤلَ وَالمُنى

وَيَحظى بِدارِ الخُلدِ حينَ يَؤولُ

Has a guidance vouchsafed him shall lead to salvation

How worthy is he to attain his request and desires,

And the House of Eternity ere he die shall enjoy.

And to enjoy the Abode of Eternity when he returns.

لَكَ اللَهُ يا عَبدَ العَزيزِ بنَ فَيصَلٍ

مُعينٌ عَلى نَصرِ الهُدى وَوَكيلُ

God be thy Helper, 0 Abd al-'Aziz ibn Faysal,

God is with you, O Abdulaziz bin Faisal,

In upholding the guidance and gaining the goal!

A helper in the victory of guidance and a guardian.

فَأَنتَ الذي أَيَّدتَ سُنَّةَ أَحمدٍ

وَأَحكَمتَ حَبلَ الدينِ وَهوَ سَحيلُ

Thou it wast reinforced Muhammad's law, and its way

For you are the one who supported the Sunnah of Ahmad,

Made straight; a cable God's Book to save from severance.

And tightened the rope of religion when it was unraveled.

وَأَعلَيتَ بَيتَ المَكرُماتِ الذي بهِ

ظِلالٌ يَكُنُّ المُسلِمينَ ظَليلُ

Thou exaltedst the House of magnification that in it

You raised the house of noble deeds which possesses

For all Muslims shall ever a refuge remain;

Shadows that shelter the Muslims with deep shade.

مَحامِدُ كانَت في سَما المَجدِ أَنجُماً

ثَوابِتَ لا يَعرو لَهُنَّ أُفولُ

Lauds high as the sky is in glory a star.

Praiseworthy traits that were stars in the sky of glory,

Shining bright, never soiling, still rise to their goal;

Fixed stars that are never afflicted by setting.

تَسيرُ مَسيرَ الريحِ في كُلِّ وُجهَةٍ

وَتُصغِيَ آذانٌ لَها وَعُقولُ

Running their course through all regions like wind.

They travel the path of the wind in every direction,

and attentive ears inclining towards them in awe.

And ears and minds listen closely to them.

فَبِالمَشرِقِ الأَقصى بِهِنَّ مَفاخِرٌ

وَبِالمَغرِبِ الأَقصى لَهُنَّ قَبيلُ

In farthest East are they pride, in farthest West

In the farthest East they are objects of pride,

To tribes of them is glory and high renown.

And in the farthest West they find acceptance.

وَإِن ثارَ حَربٌ لا يُنادي وَليدُها

شَروبٌ لِأَشلاءِ الكِرامِ أَكول

And if war be stirred, and to flesh-rending they proceed.

If a war erupts whose infant does not cry out,

Others than wine shall slake then the thirsty swords' drought.

Voracious, drinking the remains of the noble ones,

أَقَمتَ لَها سوقاً مِنَ النَقعِ قاتِماً

بِهِ ذاكَ مَجروحٌ وَذاكَ قَتيل

There set them up a market of lancesRTCurved, gleaming,

You established a market for it from the dark dust,

Where this one is hurt and that one stricken and killed,

In which this one is wounded and that one is slain.

بِجُردٍ يُعالِكنَ الشَكيمَ عَوابِساً

لَها مَرَحٌ تَحتَ القَنا وَصَهيلُ

With brown blades baring the throats, snorting chargers

With short-haired horses chewing their bits, frowning,

Joyfully browsing 'neath their bridles’ restraint.

Possessing spirit under the spears and a whinny.

مَتى ما تُصَبِّح دارَ قَومٍ بِغارَةٍ

فَفي دارِ قَومٍ آخَرينَ تَقيلُ

When their dwellings thou raidest at morn, another day

Whenever they attack the home of a people in the morning,

Seest them in yet other dwellings take rest.

Then in the home of another people they take their noon rest.

عَلَيهِنَّ مِن عُليا رَبيعَةَ فِتيَةٌ

فُروعٌ أَجادَت غَرسَهُنَّ أُصولُ

Against them the banners' ombre closely o’ershadow

Upon them are youths from the nobility of Rabi'ah,

The steeds that ever the valiant clans have fed.

Branches whose roots produced them well.

هُمُ يَستَطيبونَ المَنايا كَأَنَّما

يَهُزُّهُمُ نَحوَ الطِعانِ شَمولُ

Then say unto such as fain change what is decreed,

They find death sweet, as if

"Gently! the mead of the wicked is but loss."

Fine wine stirs them toward the thrusting of spears.

فَكَم فَرَّجَت مِن غُمَّةِ لَم يَكُن لَها

سِوى اللَهِ ثُمَّ المَشرَفِيِّ مُزيلُ

Full inwardness of the matter shalt thou learn if thou seek

How many a distress have you relieved that had no

And be thyself humbled and brought to thy knee.

Remover except God, and then the Mashrafiyya sword.

إِذا ما رَمى الشَأوَ البَعيدَ ذَرَعنَهُ

بِهِ ناجِياتٌ سَيرُهُنَّ ذَميلُ

How ignorant the man who takes the booby for a noble hawk.

When the distant goal is aimed at, they cover it

And steeds the jousting knights ride compares with geldings!

With swift camels whose pace is a fast trot.

جَحافِلُ يَترُكنَ الرَوابي سَباسِباً

يَسوقُ الرَعيلَ المُسبَطِرَّ رَعيلُ

There he Imagined, as his fancy dictated,

Armies that leave the hills as flat plains,

Safe in his mountain fastness, secure from alarm;

One column driving the extended column ahead.

تَظَلُّ عَلَيهِنَّ القَشاعِمُ عُكَّفاً

لِما عُوِّدَت أَنَّ القَبيلَ أَكيلُ

Saying, "When comes that Imam's army then of a truth

The vultures remain hovering over them,

By my hands and my sharp-ground sword shall they fall."

Because they are accustomed to the tribe becoming a feast.

فَقُل لِلذي يَبغي خِلافَ الذي مَضى

رُوَيداً فَمَرعى الناكِثينَ وَبيلُ

But when he saw them move as locusts swarming

So say to the one who seeks the opposite of the past:

With a terror the pulse making direly to quail,

"Slowly! For the pasture of the promise-breakers is unhealthy."

سَتَعلمُ غِبَّ الأَمرِ إِن كُنتَ فاعِلاً

بِما سَوفَ تَلقاهُ وَأَنتَ ذَليلُ

He turned and wished the solid ground might swallow his frame

"You will know the outcome of the matter if you do it,"

With brow bespattered by cold sweat and cries of despair.

"By what you will encounter while you are humiliated."

فَكَم جاهِلٍ ظَنَّ البُغاثَ جَوارِحاً

وَأَنَّ الخَواويرَ العِشارَ فُحولُ

So God give thee noble virtues, O Ibn al-Akrams twain,

For how many ignorant ones thought the small birds were hawks,

Whose glory still grows and more high shall rise!

And that the weak camels were breeding stallions.

فَظَلَّ يُلَوّي ليتَهُ مُتَمَتِّعاً

عَلى زَعمِهِ في حِصنِهِ وَيَقولُ

And left us in thee no wise bereft one defensive still,

So he remained twisting his neck, enjoying himself,

Zealous, protector of heroes' seed though they die.

According to his claim, within his fortress, saying:

مَتى يَأتِني جَيشُ الإِمامِ فَإِنَّهُ

بِكَفَّيَّ ماضي الشَفرَتَينِ صَقيلُ

Curb of glory—but slacken thy grip thereon—

"When the Imam's army comes to me, indeed,"

And torrent of bounty and gifts flooding free!

"In my hands is a sharp, polished sword."

فَلَمّا رَآها كَالجَرادِ مُغيرَةً

لَها رَهَجٌ في الخافِقَينِ يَهولُ

Gentle of habit to kindly men, but poison active

But when he saw them raiding like locusts,

To the foeman that brings evil and breaks his oath.

Raising a dust cloud in the horizons that terrifies,

تَوَلّى يَوَدُّ الأَرضَ ساخَت بِجِسمِهِ

قُصارى جَداهُ زَفرَةٌ وَعَويلُ

Fearless resolve is he that rides the steed of high emprise,

He turned away, wishing the earth would swallow his body;

Spurring to death and wounds though blood run at its pace!

The utmost of his ability was a sigh and a wail.

فَلِلَّهِ يَاِبنَ الأَكرَمينَ فَضائِلاً

حَوَيتَ وَمَجداً ذِكرُهُ سَيَطولُ

Saud, God continue thy fortunes’ fair field! Rise high! Rise high! With lofty steps mount to heaven’s place!

To God belongs your merit, O son of the noble ones, for virtues

There shalt thou win God's good pleasure in wisdom's debate,

You have gathered, and glory whose mention will be long.

وَخُلِّفتَ فينا لا عَدِمناكَ حازِماً

هُماماً لِخَلّاتِ الكِرامِ فَعولُ

Though wordy wranglers little shall speak to the point.

You have left among us—may we never lack you—a resolute one,

There shalt thou win it in reason sound, though men offer

A magnanimous chief who performs the deeds of the noble.

زِمامُ عُلاً لكِن بِكَفِّكَ ثَنيُهُ

وَثَجّاجُ جودٍ مِن نداكَ يَسيلُ

other Solutions foolish, and the wise word little esteem.

The reins of highness, though in your hand is its guiding rope,

So brace thou with him the Caliphate's bond, verily

And a pouring rain of generosity flows from your dew.

هُوَ الأَريُ لِلعافينَ ليناً وَشيمَةً

وَسُمٌّ ذُعافٌ لِلعَدُوِّ يَغولُ

Worthy the choice for which we have named him heir.

He is honey to the seekers of favor in softness and character,

Thus in him we shall ever find traits to delight us, his fame

And a deadly poison to the enemy that destroys.

رَكوبٌ لِأَثباجِ المَعالي بِعَزمَةٍ

تَخوضُ المَنايا وَالدِماءُ تَسيلُ

Still rising to earth's farthest end shall unfold.

A rider of the high crests of matters with a resolve

Now all men from East to West have I tried and sifted.

That wades through death while blood flows.

سُعودٌ أَدامَ اللَهُ سَعدَكَ وَاِرتَقى

بِعَلياهُ حَظٌّ باسِقٌ وَقُبولُ

My judgment on them directing with care manaifold.

Saud: may God perpetuate your happiness and may there ascend

But my assay eliminating, proving, testing them all

By his highness a towering fortune and acceptance.

سَتَرضاهُ في الهَيجا اِشتَجَرَ القَنا

وَقَلَّ المُحامي وَالحِفاظُ قَليلُ

Showed me in thee the sound metal, in them but base dross.

You will be pleased with him in war when spears tangle,

Next, glib cheap orators, easy of phrase, form alone

And defenders are few and protection is scarce.

وَتَرضاهُ في الرَأيِ المُصيبِ إِذا هَفَت

حُلومٌ وَرُدَّ الرَأيُ وَهوَ كَليلُ

Dragon-like soaring through every land at their pleasure

And you will be pleased with him in right opinion if minds err,

Boasting of thee in all quarters thy votaries

And opinion is rejected while it is dull.

فَشُدَّ بِهِ أَزرَ الخِلافَةِ إِنَّهُ

جَديرٌ بِما رَشَّحتَهُ وَكَفيلُ

Be they vow long or short, they praise to the full.

So strengthen with him the back of the Caliphate, for he is

For thou hast clad me in bounty of thine attributes

Worthy of what you nominated him for, and a guarantor.

فَفيهِ وَلا نَعدَمكَ مِنكَ مَخايِلٌ

سَيَعلو لَهُ ذِكرٌ بِها وَيَطولُ

Rankling deep in the jealous breast with their smart.

In him—and may we not lack you—are signs from you;

Herald repeats it in regions far and listeners hear

His mention will rise because of them and endure.

وَجَرَّبتُ هذا الناسَ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً

أُحَدِّدُ فيهِم فِكرَتي وَأُجيلُ

Rushing on like the winds, welcomed and loved.

I have tested these people, East and West,

Now should my years prolong, from thee the like they'd hear

Sharpening my thought regarding them and examining.

فَمَحَّضَني تَقليبُهُم وَاِختِبارُهُم

بِأَنَّكَ فَردٌ وَالأَنامُ شُكولُ

With life and high fortune thine such glories enfold!

Their testing proved to me purely

And, my God, bless Thy Chosen One, while the leaves stir

That you are unique, and the rest of mankind are but shadows.

وَدونَكَها مَحبوكَةَ اللَفظِ طَلقَةً

تَظَلُّ بِأَقطارِ البِلادِ تَجولُ

Or clouds pace on earth watering its hillslopes and dales!

So take this poem, tightly woven in wording, flowing,

Bless Thy Chosen and bless his elect Companions all,

Remaining to roam through the regions of the lands.

تُباهي بِكَ الشُعّارَ في كُل مَوطِنٍ

سَواءٌ لَدَيها مُقصِرٌ وَمُطيلُ

And them that walk in the path by his guidance made plain!

Boasting of you against the poets in every homeland,

Equal before it are the concise poet and the prolix one.

فَأَنتَ الذي أَلبَستَني مِنك نِعمَةً

لَها في قُلوبِ الحاسدينَ غَليلُ

For you are the one who clothed me with a favor from you,

Which causes burning thirst in the hearts of the envious.

يُحَدِّثُ عَنها سامِعٌ وَمُبَلِّغٌ

وَتَسري كَما تَسري صَباً وَقُبولُ

A listener and a messenger speak of it,

And it travels as the east wind and acceptance travel.

فَإِن تُبقِني الأَيّامُ تَسمَع بِمِثلِها

وَفي عُمرِكَ الباقي وَعِزِّكَ طولُ

If the days keep me alive, you will hear the likes of it,

And in your remaining life and glory is length.

وَصَلِّ إِلهي ما شَدا الوُرقُ أَو هَمى

عَلى الأَرضِ رَجّاسُ السَحابِ هُمولُ

And bless, my God, as long as the pigeons sing or rain pours

Upon the earth from thundering, pouring clouds,

عَلى المُصطَفى وَالآلِ الصَحبِ كُلِّهِم

وَمَن بِهُداهُ يَهتَدي وَيَقولُ

Upon the Chosen One and all his Family and Companions,

And whoever is guided by his guidance and speaks of it.