يا صَدر خَير مملك

بِسَداده يَتصرّفُ

O minister of the finest sovereign,

who governs with sound judgment,

وَبعدله بَينَ الوَرى

في كُل حُكم ينصف

and through his justice among humankind

deals fairly in every ruling;

وَلِغَيره في عَصره

بِبَديع صُنع يُسعف

and who, to others in his age,

brings aid through wondrous deeds.

هُنِّئتَ بِالعيدين في

عام بسعدك يتحف

May you be congratulated on the two feasts, in

a year made splendid by your good fortune,

وَبنعمة الفَرح الَّذي

بِالمُصطَفى يَتشرّف

and on the blessing of the joy that

is ennobled by the Chosen One,

وَبغبطة في دَولة

مَأمونها بِكَ أَعرف

and on felicity in a state

whose trusted ruler knows your worth best,

حَيث اِجتَباك وَإِنَّهُ

نعم الخديوي المنصف

since he chose you; and indeed he is

an excellent and just Khedive.

وَلأَنت في وزرائه

للحق سَيف مُرهف

And truly, among his ministers, you are

a keen-edged sword for truth;

وَبِما عَهدنا فيكَ مِن

حلم تُنوسي أَحنَف

and by the forbearance we have known in you,

you cause al-Ahnaf to be forgotten.

فَاقبل مَدائح مُخلص

بِالطَبع لا يَتكلف

So accept the praises of a sincere man,

naturally spoken, without affectation;

وَأَجزه بِالتَقليد مِن

مَلك رَؤف يَعطف

and reward him with an investiture from

a compassionate king who shows favor.

وَارحم تضرع صالح

بِجَميل شُكرك يَهتف

And take pity on Salih’s entreaty,

calling out in graceful gratitude to you.

وَلَقَد وَعدت وَما نَرى

لِلحر وَعَداً يخلف

For you have promised, and we never see

a noble man fail in a promise.

وَلَأَنتَ بَعد اللَه وَال

ملك المُطاع المسعف

Indeed, after God and the

obeyed king, you are the one who grants relief.

لا زلت بِالراجين في

كُل المَعاهد تَرأف

May you never cease to show compassion to hopeful souls in

every institution.