يا أكرمَ الناسِ كلِّ الناس في الشِّيَم

وأفضلَ الخَلق من عُرْب ومن عَجَمِ

O most generous of all people in character

And best of all creation, Arab or non-Arab

بل لا أَقيسُك بالدنيا وساكنها

وهل يُقاس ضياءُ الصبح بالظُّلَمِ

Rather, I do not compare you to this world and its inhabitants

And how can the dawn's radiance be compared to darkness?

ما أحسن الدهرَ إذا أصبحتَ مالكَهُ

أفديك من ملِكٍ بَرٍّ ومِن حَكَم

How good is time when you are its master

I ransom you from a righteous, wise king

قد كنتَ أسَّسْتَ يا مولاي مبتدِئاً

مَرَمّتي بالغاً فيها مَدَى الكَرَمِ

You had begun, my master, originally

My ambition with generosity, reaching the extent of nobility

ولَم تَتِمَّ فتمِّمْها فأحسَنُ ما

في المجد تتميمُ ما تُسدي من النعم

And it was not completed, so complete it, for the best that is

In glory is the completion of what you initiate of blessings

وأمرُ بتعجيلها حتّى أعيشَ وقد

أقْرَرْتَ عيني وقد بَلَّغْتَني هِمَمي

And command it to be hastened so that I may live having

Delighted my eye, and you have enabled me my aspirations