زدتِ يا بيروت نوراً

ببهاء ابن سعادهْ

You have grown brighter still, O Beirut,

through the splendor of Ibn Sa'ada.

هو بالصدق وبالتو

فيق قد نال مراده

He, through truthfulness and providential fa—

vor, has attained his desire,

مثل سعد بن معاذٍ

أو كسعد بن عُباده

like Sa'd ibn Mu'adh,

or like Sa'd ibn 'Ubada.

كم له في عنقٍ مثلي

من سجاياه قلاده

How many a necklace of his hangs on the neck of one like me,

fashioned from his noble qualities!

إذ له المعروف خلقٌ

والسخا والجودُ عاده

For beneficence is his very nature,

and liberality and bounty are his habit.

وعلى دعواي عندي

من مزاياه شهاده

To support my claim, I have at hand

testimony drawn from his merits.

وعلى النفس بنصرٍ

أيّد الله جهاده

Against the self, with His aid,

may God strengthen his striving.

محسنٌ قد فاز بالحس

نى لديه وزياده

Doing good, he has won the best re—

ward with Him, and more besides.

لم يزل يرفل في ثو

ب كمالٍ وسياده

He ever moves resplendent in a gar—

ment of perfection and eminence,

مثلما تُجلَى عليه

من جميل الخُلق غاده

just as there appeared before him

a maiden of beautiful character.