قد زارَنا الرَحمنُ واتضحَ الهُدَى
وانثالتِ الأوثانِ وافتضحَ العِدَى
The Merciful visited us and guidance became clear
Idols collapsed and enmity was exposed
وحَظِي الأَنامُ بنِعمةٍ قُدسيَّةٍ
أَضحَى بها نَهجُ الخَلاصِ مُمَّهدا
People were blessed with a holy grace
Through which the path of salvation was paved
هُوَذا الإِلهُ نراهُ مبتدئاً لنا
من مَولِدٍ وَهوَ القديمُ بلا ابتدا
Behold, we see this God starting for us
A birth though He is the Ancient without a beginning
وافَى بثوبِ الإِنسِ متَّشِحاً وقد
ملأَ العُفاةَ جَداً وفضلاً يُجتَدَى
Fulfilling the dress of humanity while having
Filled the destitute with seriousness and overflowing grace
مُتَدثِّراً ناسُوتَنا وَهُوَ الذي
مازالَ متَّشِحَ الضِياءِ كما الردا
Covering Himself in our humanity though He is the One
Who has always been covered in splendor like the full moon
عِقدَ الحيوةِ أناطَ في جِيدِ الوَرَى
وأَماطَ عنا وقرَ أَغلالِ الرَدَى
The Lord of life bound to the neck of humanity
And unveiled from us the shackles of misery
مَن لم يَزَل في عرشِ عِزِّ عَلائهِ
قد شاءَ في ذُلِّ الوِلادةِ مِذوَدا
He who has never ceased to be on the Throne of His glorious might
Willed in the lowliness of birth to be humbled
هُوَ ذا العليُّ على البسيطةِ راقدٌ
وَهُوَ الذي في عرشِهِ لن يَرقُدا
Behold, the Most High lying in a manger
Yet He is the One on whose Throne no slumber can prevail
في بيتِ لحمٍ حيثُ دارَ سوامُها
ثمَّ الإلهُ الابنُ مارسَ مَولِدا
In Bethlehem, where once grazed its cattle
The God Son then received a birth
عجبٌ عظيمٌيشدهُ الألبابَ إذ
ظهرَ الإلهُ برفدهِ مُتَجسِّدا
A tremendous marvel that captures minds
When God appeared embodied in flesh
مُتنازِلاً مُتعالياً مُتذلِّلاً
مُتَشرِّفاً مُتَخضِّعاً مُتَمجِّدا
Condescending, transcendent, humble
Honorable, submissive, glorious
مُتَواضِعاً مُتَأَلِّما مُستَحقَراً
مُتَعاظِماً مُتَنعِّماً مُتَأَيِدا
Meek, suffering, despised
Exalted, prospering, supported
بُشراكِ يا حَوّاءُ اصلَ بَلائِنا
كُفِّي النُواحَ فقد تَمَلَّكتِ الفِدَى
Rejoice, O Eve, the source of our trials
Cease your weeping for redemption has come
اليومَ أَصواتُ الملائكِ شُرَّعٌ
يَنحُونَ بالتمجيدِ رباً أَمجدا
Today the voices of angels are unleashed
Singing praises to the most glorious Lord
يومٌ قَدِ اصطَحَمَت بهِ ثُوَبُ العَلا
يَحبُونَ تهليلاً يسوعَ السيِّدا
The day on which the clothing of affliction
Was torn, crying “Hallelujah” to Jesus the Master
اليومَ حانَ من الضَلالِ نَجازُهُ
حَقاً وآنَ لنارهِ أَن تَخمَدا
Today the deliverance from misguidance arrived
Truly, and it is time for its fire to be extinguished
اليومَ قد نُظِمَت عُقودُ فِدائِنا
وقدِ اغتَدَى عِقدُ الضَلالِ مُبدَّدا
Today the bonds of our ransom were tied
While the bonds of misguidance were shattered
اليومَ بُشِّرَتِ الرُعاةُ وقد أَتَوا
لِيُحقِّقوا العَجَبَ الفريدَ الأَوحَدا
Today the shepherds were told the good news and came
To witness the unique and wondrous marvel
ربٌّ أَتَى مُتَجسِّداً من بِكرِهِ
وخِتامُها باقٍ كما منها بدا
A Lord came incarnate from His virginity
And her seal remains as it was when she began
إِنَّ المُلوكَ الفارسيَّةَ أَشخَصوا عن
أَرضِهِم لمَّا لَهم نَجمٌ بدا
Surely the Persian magi set out from
Their land when a star appeared to them
مَلكُونُ كِسبارُ السَرِيُّ وبَختَصا
لُ طَوَوا بعَسفِهِمِ السريعِ الفَدفَدا
Kings Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar
Hastened with their swift journey
نَجمٌ تَقَدَّمَهم يسيرُ تُجاهَهم
من مَشرِقٍ حتى استَبانُوا المِذوَدا
A star preceded them, traveling toward them
From the east until they arrived at Bethlehem
فَتَحوا كُنوزَهُمُ وقد أَهدَوا لَهُ
مُرّاً وذاكيةَ اللُبانِ وعَسجَدا
They opened their treasures and gifted Him
With myrrh, frankincense, and gold
في بيتِ لحمٍ شاهَدُوا رَبّاً أَرَى
طِفلاً وضيعاً بالقِماطِ مُشدَّدا
In Bethlehem they saw a Lord appearing
As an outcast child wrapped in swaddling clothes
داودُ تاقَ إلى وُرودِ مِياهِها
وشَكا اللُغوبَ وهل لذاك تقصَّدا
David longed for its water to drink
And complained of thirst; was that his intention?
فأَراقَهُ لمَّا أَتَوهُ بهِ وما
إِن راقَهُ إذ لم يُرِدهُ تَعَمُّدا
So when they brought it to him, he poured it out and did not drink
For he did not want it intentionally
ليُبِينَ توقاً لم يَكُن لوُرودِها
بل لِلَّذي سيَكُونُ أَفضَلَها يدا
But rather to demonstrate a longing
Not for its waters but for the superior One to come
رمزاً إلى ماءِ الحيوةِ ومَنبَعِ ال
حَسَناتِ رِيِّ الذائِبِينَ من الصَدَى
Symbolizing the water of life and fountain of
Good deeds that satisfies the thirsty from distress
بحرِ المراحمِ والمكارمِ والغِنَى
كَنزِ المغانمِ والعظائِمِ والجَدا
The sea of mercies, favors, and riches
Treasure of profits, marvels, and generosity
أَعني بهِ الفادي مَعِينَ خَلاصِنا
عينَ المَفاخِرِ والمآثرِ والنَدَى
I mean by this the Redeemer, aid of our salvation
Pride of glories and wonders and brilliance
هِيرُودُسُ الخَثَّارُ ساءَ بقتلِهِ
أَطفالَ أَفراثاً وأَسرَفَ واعتَدَى
Herod the villain acted horribly by killing
Innocent infants, transgressing, and aggressing
لمَّا رأَى المُغتالُ سُخرِيَةَ المَجو
سِ بهِ تَضرَّمَ قلبُهُ وتوقَّدا
When the killer saw the mockery of the manger toward him
His heart became inflamed and ignited
قَتَلَ الصِغارَ منِ ابنِ ذي عامَينِ أو
ما دُونَ ذلكَ عاتباً مُتَمرِّدا
He killed the young boys from two years old or less
Opposing and rebelling recklessly
قد أَولَغَ الظُلَّامَ في حُكمٍ فأو
لغَ في حَشَى الأَطفالِ بالظُلمِ المُدَى
He unleashed injustice in his rule, so he unleashed
In the bellies of infants injustice that crossed limits
خَشِيَ استِلابَ المُلكِ منهُ لأَنَّهُ
يبغي الجَهُولُ بأَن يعيشَ مُخلَّدا
He feared the loss of his kingdom from Him since
The ignorant seek to live forever
وأَرادَ أَن يُردِي بامرٍ رادَهُ
من قد تَنزَّهَ بالبَقاءِ عن الرَدَى
And he wanted to destroy the One whom
Transcendence from decay had honored
لم يَدرِ إِذ فَقَدَ الصَوابَ بانَّهُ
رَبُّ الممالك فَهوَ يَملِكُ سَرمَدا
He did not realize since he lost wisdom that
The Lord of Kingdoms, He is the One who reigns eternally
وبهِ سيَفنَى كلُّ مُلكٍ زائِل
ويدومُ في المُلكِ العزيزِ مُؤَيَّدا
And through Him every fleeting kingdom will perish
While the mighty Kingdom will last supported
فاليهِ ثابَ الفهمُ لكن بعدَما
رشقَ السهامَ ومدَّ للبُؤسَى يَدا
So to Him belongs insight, though after
Having shot arrows and extended a hand to the afflicted
راحيلُ طالَ نحيبُها وزفيرُها
ثكلاءُ قد أَبَت العزاءَ على المَدَى
Rachel prolonged her weeping and moaning
Inconsolable in grief over the long term
تغضِي الجُفونَ من السُهادِ على القَذَى
من مَدمَعٍ في خَدِّها قد خَدَّدا
Rubbing her eyelids from sleeplessness on the rubble
With a tear on her cheek that etched lines
جَفنٌ نَبا فأَبَى يُلِمُّ غِرارُهُ
مُتَرقِّباً زُهر الدُجَى مُتَسهِّدا
An eyelid that sprouted and refused to be patient
Anticipating the blossoms of youth lying down
ملأَت نواحيَ رامةٍ نَوحاً على
أَطفالِها وأَسىً يُذِيبُ الأَكبُدا
She filled the environs of Ramah with lament
Over her children, with sorrow that melts livers
أَمرَ الإِلهُ الآبُ يُوسُفَ في الكَرَى
خُذ مريماً والطِفلَ واهرُب مُبعِدا
God the Father commanded Joseph in theNight
Take Mary and the Child and flee far away
والبَث مُقِيماً في حِمَى مِصرٍ إلى
زَمَنٍ يعودُ العَودُ فيهِ أحمدا
And live secretly in the haven of Egypt until
The time the rod returns in which He is praised
لمَّا ثَوَوا في أرضِ مِصرٍ غادَروا
أَصنامَها دكاً ومرآها سُدَى
When they took refuge in the land of Egypt
They left its idols flattened and its pyramids in ruins
فغَدَت رُبَى الطِغيانِ رسماً دارساً
فيها ورُكنُ الدِينِ عادَ مُشيَّدا
So the nests of tyranny became a neglected lesson
While the pillar of religion returned rebuilt
وغدا اليقينُ مسوَّماً والحقُّ سا
رَ مُقوَّماً والكُفرُ ظلَّ مبدَّدا
Certainty became poisoned and truth
Corrected, while disbelief was demolished
أَمسَى طريقُ الخوفِ مسدوداً ونَهجُ
الأَمنِ من كلِّ الجِهاتِ مُسدَّدا
The path of fear became blocked and the way
Of safety was opened from every side
وغدا سبيلُ اللَه مفتوحاً لَمن
يَبغِي السُلوكَ بهِ وكانَ مُوصَّدا
And the way of God became opened to whoever
Seeks to walk in it though it had been shut
هذا هُوَ الحقُّ الصُراحُ وإِنَّني
ما زِلتَ فيهِ مُبرهِناً ومُقلِّدا
This is the plain truth, and I
Remain in it reasoning and conforming
جَمَدَت بِحارُ الغَيِّ من آياتِهِ ال
فُضلَى وكادَت قبلُ أَن لا تَجمُدا
The oceans of miracles from His signs
Froze over, and almost did not freeze
لم يَتَّقِ ابنُ اللَهِ إِمرةَ غادرٍ
فيما تَهدَّد ظالماً وتَوَعَّدا
The Son of God did not fear the threat
Of an aggressor who intimidated and warned
إِلَّا لنُوغِلَ يالتَنائي حينما
تَقَعُ الحوادثُ والبَلاءُ ونَحفِدا
Except that we plunge, O Eternal One, whenever
Disasters, trials, and wars occur
عَتَقَ الأَنامُ من الخَطاءِ بآدَمٍ
لكن بمِيلادِ المسيحِ تجدَّدا
He freed mankind from the mistake of Adam
But through Christ’s birth renewal came
ولقد حُبي حُسنَ التَخَلُّصِ من ضَلا
لتهِ وعادَ بمريمٍ مسترشِدا
And with Mary guidance returned
Enlightened, purified, and guided
بكرٌ سَمَت شأوَ المعالي مُذ عَلَت
أَقدامُها مَتنَ السُهَى والفَرقَدا
A virgin whose feet tread the heights of nobility
Since she began walking the platter and the throne
وَلَدَت وقد لَبِثَت بتولاً مِثلَما
كانت ومازالت على طُولِ المَدَى
She gave birth while remaining a virgin as she
Was and still is for all ages
كم قد هَدَت ضُلاً إلى دِينِ ابنِها
آياتُها فمُخَضرَماً ومُولَّدا
How many misguided she guided to her Son’s religion
Through her signs, seasoned and originated!
وَلَجُوا بدِينِ اللَهِ أَفواجاً فإِن
مُتَمجِّساً قد كانَ أو مُتَهوِّدا
They entered the religion of God in droves
Whether sanctified or Judaized
أنذرت ذاتي وقف حب كمالها
وجمالها أمسي ويومي بل غدا
I warned my soul to stop loving her perfection
And beauty yesterday, today, and tomorrow
ما نَسمةٌ سَحَريَّةٌ قد أَوَّدَت
بهُبوبِها قَدَّ الأَراكِ الأَملَدا
No enchanting breeze has swooned
With its blowing the flexible branches
والغُصنُ لمَّا صَفَّقَت راحاتُهُ
غنَّى لهُ الطَيرُ الأَغَنُّ وغَرَّدا
And when the hand of the branch rustled
The birds sang the most melodious song
والروضُ يزهو نَورُهُ بكِمامِهِ
حتى غدا للبَسطِ أَشرَفَ مُنتدَى
The garden blossoms with its light in its turban
Until it became the most virtuous forum
والزُهرُ تُجلَى والأَزاهرُ تنجلي
والعُودُ إِن أَهدَى الشَذا وان شَدا
The flowers shine and the blooms beam
And the wood, if it sighs or sings
بأَجَلَّ من إِنعامِ مريمَ مَن بها
بالفضل حقاً قد يُؤَمُّ ويُقتدَي
With superior grace than the favor of Mary, whoever
Through merit truly hopes and follows
نَفِدَ المِدادُ وكلَّ عن أوصافها
لُسُنُ الوَرَى ونُعوتُها لن تَنفَذا
Ink has run out, and all the eloquence of humanity
And its attributes will never suffice
يا تَيمَن اللَهِ التي منها أَتَى
قَمَرُ المَشارقِ مَن بهِ الضالُ اهتدى
O God’s blessing from whom came
The moon of the horizons by whom the lost found guidance
يا بنتَ داودَ التي لاحت لهُ
جبلاً تَفرَّدَ بالعُلى وتَوحَّدا
O daughter of David who appeared to Him
As a unique mountain summiting the heights
يا جَرَّةً قد ضُمِنَّت مَنَّ الحيو
ة وجِزَّةً قَبِلَت مَنَ الرُوحِ النَدَى
O jar that contained the draught of life
And handful that received the spirit of brilliance
ما شاهَدَ الآياتِ منكِ مُوفَّقٌ
إِلَّا ودانَ لصِدقِها وتَشهَّدا
None witness her signs as proofs and are granted success
Except he professes their truth and testifies
كَلَّا ولم يُبصِر مَراحِمَكِ امرُؤٌ
إِلَّا وعادَ مُكبِّراً ومُوحِدا
Never does a person look upon her mercies
Except he returns glorifying and unifying
ردي طريداً خائفاً مستأنساً
أجَمَ المعاصي عن حماكِ مُشرَّدا
Return my straying, fearful, feeling at home
Withdrawing sins in your refuge, expelled
وأقضي بنوركِ ظلمتي وظلامتي
كرماً فزندُ الرُشدِ مني أَضلدا
And dispel my darkness and gloom with Your light
Out of generosity, so devoutness in me is ignited
ولقد غَدَوتُ بلا اكتفاء فارمُقِي
رَمَقي فاني قد رَجَوتُكِ ما عَدا
And I have become without sufficiency, so sustain me
My fleeting sustenance, for I have hoped in You
يا خيرَ عالِمةٍ بما أَحتاجُهُ
دُونَ الهُتافِ فلا احتِياجَ إلى النِدا
O best knower of what I need
Without needing to implore, no call required
إِن كُنتِ عَوني يا بقولةُ في الوَرَى
لم أَخشَ من كَبدِ العَدُوِّ ولو عَدا
If You are my aid, O Door of Heaven
I will not fear the harm of enemies, even if they transgress
يا مَن غَزَت كيدَ العَدُوِّ بسطوةٍ
ما مارسَت فيها قَناً ومُهنَّدا
O You who defeated the scheme of the enemy by a power
In which You did not practice bow or spear
تاللَهِ إني لا أُصِيحُ لعاذلِ
فيها وحاشا ان أُطِيعَ مُفنِّدا
By God, I do not proclaim for a critic against her
And far be it that I obey one causing doubt
يا حاسدُ اقصِر فالمَحَبَّةُ شِيمتي
ومَحَبَتَّي لا تستطيعُ الحُسَّدا
O envier, be short, for benevolence is my way
And my love for her envy cannot pull
أنا لا أُداري الحاسدينَ فكُلَّما
داريتُ أَخلاقَ اللئيم تَمرَّدا
I do not confront enviers, so whenever
I confronted the ethics of villains, they rebelled
أَنعِش فُؤَادي يا سميرُ بمدحِها
وذرَنَّ إِسحقَ النديمَ ومعبَدا
Revive my heart, O Nightingale, with praising her
And leave Isaac the housemate and Ma’bad
وانثُر على سَمعي نِظامَ قريضِها
وَدَعِ الفَرَزدَقَ يستهيمُ واحمدا
And strew upon my hearing the prosody of her ode
And leave Al-Farazdaq to rave deliriously and praise
ما جادَ فِكري في مدائحِ جُودها
إِلَّا وكانَ بهِ المديحُ مُجوَّدا
When has my mind flowed with praise of her generosity
Except the praise was most well done?
يَترَنَّمُ الحادي بهِ فتَمُدُّ بال
آذانِ والسيرِ المَطِيُّ إذا حَدا
The melodist hums it, so ears extend in yearning
And the journey’s traveler sings it while traveling
طُوباكِ يا غَوثَ الوَرَى طُولَ المَدَى
ما دامَ فضلُكِ للخلائقِ مُرفِدا
Blessed are you, O Succor of humanity for all time
As long as your favor for creatures provides
طُوباكِ ما أحيىَ الظلامَ مُجاهدٌ
بِعبادةِ ابنكِ جاثماً مُتَهجِّدا
Blessed are you, as long as one persevering
In worshiping your Son remains devout
وعليكِ من ربّي التحيةُ والرضى
ما حنَّ إِلفٌ للقاءِ تودُدا
From my Lord are greetings and pleasure to you
As long as intimacy inclines toward affection
وزَهَت بسُندُيِها الرياضُ وقد سقى
عَذَباتها صَوب العِهادِ تَعَهُّدا
And its arms have watered with sweetnesses
The worshippers’ precincts with care
وسرى النسيمُ مصافِحاً زَهرَ الرُبى
سَحَراً وغنَّى العندليبُ وغرَّدا
The breeze blew, greeting the garden’s blossoms
Before dawn, and the nightingale sang and trilled
وغدا نِظامُ المدحِ فيكِ لآلئاً
كَرُمَت فباهت جوهراً وزَبَرجَدا
And the system of your praise became pearls
You favored, so the essence dimmed while the gems dazzled
حُمِدَت مبادئُهُ فكانَ خِتامُهُ
مسكاً يزِينُ المُنتهى والمُبتَدا
Its beginnings are praised, so its ending was
Musk beautifying onset and conclusion
