أَلا ما لِسَيفِ الدَولَةِ اليَومَ عاتِبا

فَداهُ الوَرى أَمضى السُيوفِ مَضارِبا

Alas! Why does the sword of the state reproach me today?

Alas, why is Sayf al-Dawla so reproachful this day? / May the world be his ransom, the sharpest of swords in the strike.

May he ransom the world, the most decisive of swords in striking

And why, when I yearn for him, do I see standing between us / Deserts I seek not, and vast, barren wastes?

وَمالي إِذا ما اِشتَقتُ أَبصَرتُ دونَهُ

تَنائِفَ لا أَشتاقُها وَسَباسِبا

And why, whenever I yearn and look below it,

Though he once drew my seat near to his very heaven, / That I might converse therein with its moon and its stars.

Do I see blades that I do not yearn for and stars?

Your mercy when asked! And at your service when called! / Sufficient am I as the gifted, and sufficient are you as the giver.

وَقَد كانَ يُدني مَجلِسي مِن سَمائِهِ

أُحادِثُ فيها بَدرَها وَالكَواكِبا

And he used to bring his assembly near to me from his heights,

Is this the reward of truth, if indeed I spoke true? / Is this the reward of falsehood, if I have been a liar?

In which I converse with its full moon and planets,

And if my offense were to encompass every sin committed, / Surely he wipes away the sin entirely who comes in repentance.

حَنانَيكَ مَسؤولاً وَلَبَّيكَ داعِياً

وَحَسبِيَ مَوهوباً وَحَسبُكَ واهِبا

Seeking your affection, calling for your response,

Content with what is bestowed, content with your giving,

أَهَذا جَزاءُ الصِدقِ إِن كُنتُ صادِقاً

أَهَذا جَزاءُ الكِذبِ إِن كُنتُ كاذِبا

Is this the reward of truthfulness, if I am truthful?

Is this the reward of lying, if I have lied?

وَإِن كانَ ذَنبي كُلَّ ذَنبٍ فَإِنَّهُ

مَحا الذَنبَ كُلَّ المَحوِ مَن جاءَ تائِبا

And if my sin is every sin, then it

Obliterates all sin, whoever comes repentant.