يا أَوحد الدَهر في تَدبير مملكةٍ

يا أَوحد الدَهر في تَدبير مملكةٍ

نشرت فيها لِواء العَدل وَالأَدَبِ

نشرت فيها لِواء العَدل وَالأَدَبِ

O unrivaled one of the age in governing a kingdom,

O unique of the age in governing a kingdom

where you have unfurled the banner of justice and refinement;

In which you have raised the banner of justice and refinement

وَمَن بِهِ تُونسُ الخَضراءُ طالعُها

وَمَن بِهِ تُونسُ الخَضراءُ طالعُها

أَضحى سَعيداً وَفازَت مِنهُ بِالأَرَب

أَضحى سَعيداً وَفازَت مِنهُ بِالأَرَب

And you through whom verdant Tunis's fortune

He by whom verdant Tunisia rises fortunate

turned auspicious, and from whom it gained its desire;

And profits thereby without stint

وَمَن مَناقبُه الغَرّاءُ لَو قُسمت

وَمَن مَناقبُه الغَرّاءُ لَو قُسمت

عَلى العِباد لَأَغنتهم عَن الحَسَب

عَلى العِباد لَأَغنتهم عَن الحَسَب

And you whose radiant virtues, if distributed

Whose outstanding qualities, were they apportioned

among humankind, would spare them the need for ancestral honor;

Among the people, would suffice them, not requiring exertion

وَمَن سِياستُه حلّت رِياستَه

وَمَن سِياستُه حلّت رِياستَه

بِحلية الجدّ دُون اللَهو وَاللَعب

بِحلية الجدّ دُون اللَهو وَاللَعب

And you whose statecraft adorned your leadership

Whose governance has clothed his leadership

with the ornament of earnestness, rather than amusement and play;

In the garment of seriousness, not frivolity and play

وَمَن غَدا لا يُجاريه بِمكرمة

وَمَن غَدا لا يُجاريه بِمكرمة

كَعبٌ وَلا حاتم المَشهور في العرب

كَعبٌ وَلا حاتم المَشهور في العرب

And you whom none can now rival in noble deeds—

One who has become peerless in munificence

neither Kaʿb nor Hatim, renowned among the Arabs;

Neither Ka'b nor Hatem, famed among the Arabs, can match him

وَمَن مساعيه في خَير الأُمور بِها

وَمَن مساعيه في خَير الأُمور بِها

طابَ الثَناء عَلى عَلياه في الكُتُب

طابَ الثَناء عَلى عَلياه في الكُتُب

And you whose endeavors in the noblest affairs

Whose endeavors in the best of matters have thereby

have made praise of your eminence sweet in books;

Made praise for his lofty deeds fragrant in books

وَمَن وَمَن لا يُبارَى في مَعارفه

وَمَن وَمَن لا يُبارَى في مَعارفه

وَفَضلِه الوافرِ الفَيّاضِ كَالسُحب

وَفَضلِه الوافرِ الفَيّاضِ كَالسُحب

And you, and you, whom none can rival in knowledge

Peerless in his knowledge and abundant grace

and in your abundant bounty, overflowing like the clouds;

Pouring down like clouds

إِني بِعَجزي لَمَعروفٌ وَمُعترفٌ

إِني بِعَجزي لَمَعروفٌ وَمُعترفٌ

عَن شُكر مَولىً أَثيلِ المَجد وَالنَسب

عَن شُكر مَولىً أَثيلِ المَجد وَالنَسب

Indeed, I am well known for—and admit—my inability

I, in my inadequacy, am one known and admitting

to thank a lord of deep-rooted glory and lineage.

Inability to thank the Lord of enduring glory and lineage

وَإِنَّني وَالَّذي أَولاك في زَمَني

وَإِنَّني وَالَّذي أَولاك في زَمَني

ما أَنتَ أَهلٌ لَهُ مِن أَرفَع الرُتَب

ما أَنتَ أَهلٌ لَهُ مِن أَرفَع الرُتَب

And indeed I, by the One who granted you in my time

And indeed, by Him who has appointed you in my time

the loftiest ranks of which you are worthy,

You are not suited for it, from the most exalted of ranks

لا أَنثني عَن مَديحي فيكَ ما طَلعت

لا أَنثني عَن مَديحي فيكَ ما طَلعت

شَمس وَما صُلِّيَت خَمسٌ مَدى الحقب

شَمس وَما صُلِّيَت خَمسٌ مَدى الحقب

shall not turn from praising you as long as there rises

I will not refrain from praising you as long as the sun rises

a sun, and as long as the five prayers are offered through the ages.

And five prayers are performed throughout the ages

فَأَنتَ غَيثٌ وَإِن الغَيثَ عادته

فَأَنتَ غَيثٌ وَإِن الغَيثَ عادته

يَأتي فَيروي بِلا سؤلٍ وَلا طلَب

يَأتي فَيروي بِلا سؤلٍ وَلا طلَب

For you are life-giving rain, and indeed rain's custom

For you are a downpour, and the nature of downpours

is to come and quench thirst, without entreaty or request.

Is to come and water without asking or request