بات المعنّى والدجى يبتلى

والبرح لا وانٍ ولا منجلي

Meaning and darkness were put to the test,

While night had no friend or sickle.

والشهب في كل سبيل له

بموقف اللُّوّام والعذل

Stars raced down every path,

Halting like a restless, sleepless shepherd.

إذا رعاها ساهيا ساهرا

رعينه بالحدق الغفّل

If he watched them absentmindedly,

He guarded them with a heedless gaze.

يا ليل قد جرت ولم تعدل

ما أنت يا أسود إلا خلى

O night that passed but did not change,

You are nothing but empty wasteland.

تالله لو حكِّمت في الصبح أن

تفعل خفت الله لم تفعل

By God, if you were empowered to act

Against the dawn, you would not dare.

أو طلت سيفا في جيوش الضحى

ما كنت للأعداء ما أنت لي

Or if you sought out swords against the armies of daybreak,

You would not be to my enemies as you are to me.

أبيت أشقى ويدير الجوى

والكأس لا تفنى ولا تمتلي

I spent the night suffering while fate turned,

The cup neither emptying nor filling.

والخدّ من دمعي ومن فيضه

يشرب من عين ومن جدول

My cheek drinks from my tears and their outpouring,

From one eye and from a stream.

والشوق نار في رماد الأسى

والفكر يذكي والحشا يصطلى

Yearning is a fire amidst the ashes of grief,

Thought kindles it and darkness is illuminated.

والقلب قوّام على أضلعي

كأنه الناقوس في الهيكل

My heart stands guard over my ribs

As if it were the bell in a temple.

غدت برب النفس من شِقوتي

وبالركاب الأسعد المقبل

Through my torment I came close to the Lord of souls

And the footsteps of the happiest fate.

أهلا برب النيل رب القرى

رب البطاح الكثر مما يلى

Greetings Lord of the Nile, Lord of villages,

Lord of wide plains more numerous than slopes.

الجامع العرشين في واحد

واللابس التاجين في المحفل

Uniter of twenty into one,

Wearer of two crowns in the assembly.

والساحب الذيل على عصره

على ملوك الزمن الأوّل

Who drags his train across the century,

Above the kings of earlier times.

أهلا بمولانا وسهلا به

ومرحبا بالسيد المفضل

Greetings to our Master, welcome to Him,

Hail to the favored Lord.

الممتطى متن السها عزة

فلو أشار الدهر لم ينزل

Mounted on the back of glory with honor,

If fate gestured he would not descend.

المنعم المجزل عن نفسه

عن جدّه عن جدّه المجزل

Bestower of abundant gifts from himself,

From his ancestor, from his generous ancestor.

الجاعل الأمة من عدله

والفضل بين الظل والمنهل

Who made the nation by his justice,

Grace between shade and watering place.

عاصمة النيل أزدهِى وأنجلي

واتخِذي اليوم صنوف الحلى

Capital of the Nile, rejoice and be merry,

And put on all kinds of finery today.

واستعرضي الخيل ومدّى الع

يد بالجحفل فالجحفل

Parade horses and extend hands

With palms. And you, palace, delight

وأنت يا قصر ابتهج وابتهل

وأهد الملا بالعلم المرسل

And plead. Bring scholars the revealed knowledge.

And let the delegation draw near their Lord.

وأزلف الوفد إلى ربهم

وظلل السدّة واظّلل

Provide shade and give shade.

And you, Egypt's sons, hurry and plead

ويا بني مصر أهرعوا وأضرعوا

بحفظ مولى مصر والموئل

For the protection of Egypt's Master and haven.

This to you is the face of dew and guidance,

هذا لكم وجه الندى والهدى

فاستقبلوه خير مستقبل

So receive him in the best reception.