أَنَا مَنْ أَسْلَفْتُ خَيْراً وَتَوَانَى

زِد جَمِيلاً وَاقْبَلِ العُذْرَ امْتِنَانَا

I am the one who did good but was made to wait

Do more good and accept my excuse as a favor

عَلِمَ اللهُ ضَمِيرِي لَمْ يَزَلْ

وَافِياً لَكِنَّ سُوءَ الحَظِّ خَانَا

God knows my conscience has always been

Faithful, though ill fate betrayed me

أَخْلَفَتْ تَهْنِئَتِي مِيقَاتَهَا

وَالَّتِي أَسْدَيْتَ لَمْ تُخْلِفْ أَوَانَا

My congratulations missed their appointed time

While yours, not once did fail or late

فَلَئِنْ تَسْبِقْ فَمَا أَضَعَفَنِي

عَنْ مُجَارَاتِكَ عَقْلاً وَجَنَانَا

So if you excel me, it's no failing in me

In wit or passion that I can't match your rate

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ سَماحاً وَنَدىً

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ بَدِيعاً وَبَيَانَا

Who can compare to your generosity and charm?

Who can compare to your eloquence and diction?

مِدْحَةُ السَّيِّدِ لِي فِي حِينِهَا

رَفَعَتْنِي بَيْنَ أَقْرَانِي مَكَانَا

My lord praising me raised me high

Among my peers to an exalted position

وَمَدِيحِي فِيهِ لَوْ جَادَ لَمَا

زَادَهُ عَنْ كَوْنِهِ أَرْفَعُ شَانَا

And my praise of him, had I been more lavish

Would not have raised him higher in his station

سَيِّدِي أَكْرَمُ مَنْ أَسْدَى يَداً

أَنْعَشَتْ لِلشُّكْرِ قَلْباً وَلِسَانَا

My lord, most generous is he who lends a hand

Reviving heart and tongue in appreciation

نِعْمَةُ المَولى عَلَيْهِ أَوْسَعَتْ

نُخَبَ الأَمةِ غُنْماً وضَمَانَا

The blessings of God on him are most ample

Choicest of the nation in spoils and preservation

وَتَمَامُ السَّعْدِ فِيهَا أَنَّ مَا

أَوْجَبَ الفَضْلُ وَشَاءَ العَدْلُ كَانَا

And the height of fortune that what is right

By merit and justice should come to fruition