قالوا انتبِذْ قلت مهلاً

عندي نبيذٌ كثيرُ

They said "drink!" I said "wait,

I have plenty of wine.

ما عاش لي ابن سعيدٍ

فإن شأني كبيرُ

As long as Ibn Sa'eed lives,

my affair is momentous.

وكل ما أبتغيه

فالخطْب فيه يسير

All I seek,

speaking of it is easy.

إذا كتبتُ إليه

فليس شيء عسير

When I write to him,

nothing is difficult.

لي عنده بحر سُقيا

للفُلْك فيه مَسير

With him I have a sea of generosity

in which ships can sail.

فتىً مُباح العطايا

إذا اعتراه فقير

A lord whose gifts are permitted

whenever a poor man faces him.

وللصديق ظهيرٌ

من عزه ونصير

And for the friend, a helper

from his glory and supporter.

وباللطيف عليمٌ

وبالخفيّ خبير

And with the gentle, All-Knowing,

and with the unseen, All-Aware,

وبالثناء سميعٌ

وبالجميل بصير

and with praise, All-Hearing,

and with beauty, All-Seeing.

كم من رسولٍ بعثنا

هُ نحوه يستمير

How many messengers we sent

heading towards him to take counsel,

وافاهُ وهْو رسولٌ

وعاد وهو بشير

and he met them while a messenger

and returned while a giver of glad tidings.

قالوا فبرهنْ على ما

تقول وهْو جدير

They said "prove what

you say," and it is fitting.

قلت الرسول وعندي

للجاحد التنوير

I said "The messenger is with me

to enlighten the skeptic."

جيئوا به وكأن قدْ

جاء النبيذ يطير

Bring him, as if the wine

had come flying.

في ضمنيَ النجح من قب

لِ أن يُشير مشير

Success was in my protection

before any advisor gestured.

عُمِّرت ياابن سعيدٍ

ما سرك التعمير

You have lived long, O Ibn Sa'eed.

What is your secret of longevity?

فأنت للطالب العر

ف روضةٌ وغدير

For the seeker of nobility you are

a meadow and stream,

وأنت للطالب العل

م بحرُ علم غزير

And for the seeker of knowledge you are

an abundant ocean of it.

على الكرام أمير

وأنت ذاك الأمير

Over all nobles you are prince,

and you are that prince.

الله لي فيك من كلْ

لِ ما أخاف مُجير

My God, in you I have

for all I fear a protector.