كَيْفَ حَالِي أَنَا المَدِينُ وَدَيْنِي

فَوْقَ مَا أَسْتَطِيعُهُ مِنْ وَفَاءِ

How am I, a debtor, and my debt

Is more than I can afford to pay

لِلْرِّفَاقِ الَّذِينَ أَعَلَوْا مَكَانِي

مِنْ كِبَارِ الكُتَّابِ وَالشُّعرَاءِ

To friends who are superior to me

Among the great writers and poets

وَالكِرَامِ الَّذِينَ يُسْعَى إِلَيْهِمْ

وَسَعَوا عَنْ تَفَضُّل وَسَخَاءِ

And the generous whom I seek out

And they were gracious out of kindness and generosity

يَا وَزيراً لَهُ مِنَ الْفَضْلِ مَا يُغْنِيهِ

عَنْ كُلِّ مَدْحَةٍ وَثَنَاءِ

O minister, your knowledge suffices you

Against any praise or eulogy

وَأَحَلَّ البَيَانَ وَالعِلْمَ في الأَوْجِ

الَّذِي حَلَّهُ مِنَ العلْيَاءِ

And you attained eloquence and knowledge at its peak

Which you attained from the most high

أَنْتَ أَكْرَمْتَنِي لِيُكْرِمْكَ رَبُّ

الْعَرْشِ هَذَا شُكْرِي وَهَذَا دُعَائِي

You honored me so that the Lord of the Throne

May honor you - this is my thanks and prayer