إِلَيكَ سَعى يا أَوحَد الدَهر سؤددُ

إِلَيكَ سَعى يا أَوحَد الدَهر سؤددُ

بِهِ لَكَ أَبناء المَعارف تَشهَدُ

بِهِ لَكَ أَبناء المَعارف تَشهَدُ

Eminence has hastened to you, O peerless one of the age.

To you hastened, O unique of the age, the yearner

The sons of learning bear witness that it is yours.

With it for you the children of knowledge bear witness

وَإِنَّكَ أَولى يا نَبيه بِرُتبة

وَإِنَّكَ أَولى يا نَبيه بِرُتبة

عَلَيها أَخو العرفان وَالفَضل يحسد

عَلَيها أَخو العرفان وَالفَضل يحسد

And you are indeed most worthy, O Nabih, of a rank

And you are most worthy, O noble one, of the rank

for which a man of knowledge and merit is envied.

Upon which the brother of knowledge and merit is envied

وَكَيفَ وَلِلتَدبير مِنكَ فَراسةٌ

وَكَيفَ وَلِلتَدبير مِنكَ فَراسةٌ

يعضِّدها رَأي مُنيف مسدد

يعضِّدها رَأي مُنيف مسدد

And how could it be otherwise, when you bring insight to management,

And how could it not when in you lies perception for administration

supported by a lofty, well-directed judgment?

Supported by an excellent and guiding opinion

وَفي مصر دِيوان المُرور الَّذي حَلا

وَفي مصر دِيوان المُرور الَّذي حَلا

بِكَ اِزدادَ تَشريفاً بَناه المشيد

بِكَ اِزدادَ تَشريفاً بَناه المشيد

And in Egypt, the Transit Bureau, which grew fair

And in Egypt the department of transitions which adorned

through you—its lofty edifice has gained in honor.

With you increased in glory, built by the eminent

فَعش رافِلاً في حلة السَعد وَالبَها

فَعش رافِلاً في حلة السَعد وَالبَها

يَهنيك بِالإِقبال عَبد وَسيد

يَهنيك بِالإِقبال عَبد وَسيد

So live, proudly arrayed in the robe of good fortune and splendor;

So live comfortably robed in happiness and splendor

may slave and master congratulate you on your prosperity.

As servant and master congratulate you on prosperity

وَتَرقى إِلى أَسمى المَراتب رفعة

وَتَرقى إِلى أَسمى المَراتب رفعة

فَطالعك السامي بِما شئت يَسعد

فَطالعك السامي بِما شئت يَسعد

And may you rise in eminence to the loftiest ranks,

And ascend to the highest of ranks, lofty nobility

for your exalted star is auspicious in all you desire.

So your sublime ascent fulfills your wishes

وَتَبقى لَنا ما قال مَجدي مُؤرخاً

وَتَبقى لَنا ما قال مَجدي مُؤرخاً

لمرتبة عَلياء جاء محمد

لمرتبة عَلياء جاء محمد

And may you remain with us as long as Majdi declares in his chronogram:

And there remains for us what Majdi the historian has said

To a lofty rank Muhammad has come.

Of the supreme rank reached by Muhammad