سَنحَتْ فرْصَةٌ لِقالَةَ حَقٍ
قَالَةُ الْحَقِّ هَلْ بِهَا مِنْ نكِيرِ
An opportunity arose to speak the truth
Is there any denial in telling the truth?
أَفَتَأْبَى على المُحِبِّينَ وَالشا
عِرُ فِيهِمْ إِبْدَاءَ مَا فِي الضَّميرِ
Will you refuse the lovers and the poet
To express what is in their conscience?
يَا أَمِيناً عَلى خَزَائِنِ مِصْرٍ
وَوَزِيراً أَجْلِلْ بِهِ مِنْ وَزِيرِ
O trustee of Egypt’s treasures
And minister, most venerable of ministers
مِصْرُ تَرْجُوِ مْنَك الْكَثِيرَ وَمَهْمَا
تَرْجُهُ مِنْك فهْوَ غيْرُ كَثِير
Egypt hopes a lot from you
No matter how much it hopes, it is not much
كلُّ مَاضِيك شَاهِدٌ لك عَدْلٌ
بِالَّذِي كُنْتَ فِي جِسَامِ الأُمْورِ
All your past testifies to your justice
In important affairs you have been
حَاكِمٌ حَازِمٌ وَلِيٌّ مُطَاعٌ
ثَاقِبُ الْفِكْرِ صَادِقُ التَّقدِيرِ
A decisive ruler, an obeyed guardian
Keen of thought, honest in assessment
يَتَحَاجَى الْحُسَّادُ فِيكَ وَمَا كَا
نَ حَسُودٌ لِنِعْمَةٍ بِذَكُورِ
The envious compete regarding you
No one envies a favor to the virtuous
مَنْ يُسَائِلْ يُفْحِمْهُ بِالرَّدِّ أَبْقى
أَثَرٍ مِنْكَ فِي النَّهى مأْثُورِ
Whoever asks, you silence with an answer
Your traces in guidance are most told
أَنَا أَدْرِي إِنْ كَانَ غيْرِيَ لَم يَدْ
رِ وَهَلْ مِنْ مُنَبِّيءٍ كَخَبِيرِ
I know even if others don’t know
Is there an informer like the expert?
أَنَا أَدْرِي مَنِ الْفَتَى حِينَ يَدْعُو
صَارِخُ الْحَقِّ فِي المَقَامِ الْخَطِيرِ
I know who is the young man when he calls
The truth’s advocate in the critical stance
أَنا أَدْرِي مَا مُصْطَفَى مَا مَزَايا
ذلِك العَالِمِ الْحَصِيفِ الْقَدِيرِ
I know what Mustafa’s traits are
That wise, careful, able scholar
مَا بِهِ مِنْ نَبالةٍ وَأَناةٍ
وَمَضَاءٍ فِي الرَّأْيِ وَالتَّدْبِيرِ
His nobility, composure
Resolve, opinion and management
مَا بِهِ مِنْ نَزَاهَةٍ وَصَفَاءٍ
وَوَفَاءٍ وَمِنْ سَمَاحٍ وَخيْرِ
His integrity, clarity
Loyalty, generosity and good
أَيُّهَا السادَةُ الأُولى اجْتَمَعُوا الْيَوْ
مَ لِمَعْنىً أَوْحَاهُ سَامِي الشُّعورِ
O masters, gathered today
For a meaning inspired by lofty feelings
هَلْ رَأَيْتُمْ مَجْداً كَإِقْرَارِ أَحْرَا
رٍ كِبَارٍ بِفضْلِ حُرٍ كَبِيرِ
Have you seen glory like acknowledging
The nobility of a free, great man?
مَنْ يَكُونُ الرَّئِيسَ وَالْقَوْمُ أَنْتمْ
حَسْبُهُ أَنْ يَكونَ صَدْرَ الصُّدُورِ
Who can be president when you are the nation
It’s enough that he be the best of all
غايَةُ الْجاهِ فِي مَكَانَتَهِ مِنْكُمْ
وَأَنْتُمْ ذُؤابَةُ الْجُمْهُورِ
The pinnacle of prestige is his position among you
While you are the elite of the masses
