الدَهر كلل تاج الملك بالحِكَمِ

الدَهر كلل تاج الملك بالحِكَمِ

وَأَيد الدين وَالأَوطان بالهممِ

وَأَيد الدين وَالأَوطان بالهممِ

Time has wreathed the crown of kingship with wisdom,

Time has crowned the king with wisdom

and strengthened religion and the homelands through high resolve.

And supported religion and homeland with determination

وَدَولة العدل إسماعيل مذ رغبت

وَدَولة العدل إسماعيل مذ رغبت

في راغبٍ أَصبحت مَنشورة العلم

في راغبٍ أَصبحت مَنشورة العلم

And Isma'il's reign of justice, since it set its hopes

And the state of justice, Ismail, since you desired

on Raghib, now stands with its banner unfurled.

In the desirer, has become published knowledge

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ في مصر وَهوَ لها

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ في مصر وَهوَ لها

حصن مَنيع حباها مِنهُ بِالشمم

حصن مَنيع حباها مِنهُ بِالشمم

Do you not see that in Egypt he, as her

Do you not see that he is in Egypt as if

impregnable fortress, has endowed her with his lofty pride?

An impregnable fortress God has endowed it with glory

وَأَنَّهُ عضد الحَق المُبين بِما

وَأَنَّهُ عضد الحَق المُبين بِما

قَد فاجأ الباطل المَذموم بِالعَدم

قَد فاجأ الباطل المَذموم بِالعَدم

And that he has upheld manifest truth by

And that he is the supporter of the clear truth with what

suddenly reducing condemned falsehood to nothing?

He suddenly defeated the despised falsehood with annihilation

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ بِالعَدل وَهوَ لَهُ

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ بِالعَدل وَهوَ لَهُ

أَهل أَباد رسوم الجور وَالنقم

أَهل أَباد رسوم الجور وَالنقم

Do you not see that through justice, for which he is

Do you not see that with justice, which belongs to him

well suited, he has erased the traces of oppression and vengeance?

The people abolished the norms of tyranny and grievance

وَأَنَّهُ أَنصف المَظلوم حَيث لَهُ

وَأَنَّهُ أَنصف المَظلوم حَيث لَهُ

ردّ الظَلامة رغم الخصم وَالحَكَم

ردّ الظَلامة رغم الخصم وَالحَكَم

And that he has given the oppressed justice, for he

And that he gave justice to the oppressed wherever he has

redressed his grievance, despite the adversary and the judge?

Repelled the darkness despite the opponent and the judge

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ في كُل مَشوَرَةٍ

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ في كُل مَشوَرَةٍ

يَسمو عَلى الغَير بِالآراء وَالحِكَم

يَسمو عَلى الغَير بِالآراء وَالحِكَم

Do you not see that in every consultation

Do you not see that in every consultation

he rises above others in judgment and wisdom?

He rises above others with opinions and wisdom

وَأَنَّهُ ما لَهُ بَين الوَرى شبهٌ

وَأَنَّهُ ما لَهُ بَين الوَرى شبهٌ

في الحَزم وَالحلم وَالإقدام وَالكَرَم

في الحَزم وَالحلم وَالإقدام وَالكَرَم

And that he has no peer among humankind

And that he has no equal among all people

in resolve, forbearance, courage, and generosity?

In resolve, patience, daring and generosity

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ شهم سِياستُه

أَما تَرى أَنَّهُ شهم سِياستُه

أَنست سياسةَ مَأمون وَمعتصم

أَنست سياسةَ مَأمون وَمعتصم

Do you not see that he is noble, and his statesmanship

Do you not see that the boldness of his politics

has made one forget the statesmanship of Ma'mun and Mu'tasim?

Made forget the politics of Mamun and Mu'tasim

وَأَنَّهُ عالَمٌ في واحد وَبِهِ

وَأَنَّهُ عالَمٌ في واحد وَبِهِ

ركن المروءة أَضحى غَير منهدم

ركن المروءة أَضحى غَير منهدم

And that he is a world in one man, and through him

And that he is a scholar in one, and in him

the pillar of chivalry now stands unbroken?

The pillar of manhood has become indestructible

أَما تَرى أَنه فيما يُباشره

أَما تَرى أَنه فيما يُباشره

مِن الأُمور همامٌ راسخ القدم

مِن الأُمور همامٌ راسخ القدم

Do you not see that in what he undertakes

Do you not see that in what he undertakes

of affairs, he is resolute and firm-footed?

Of matters he is determined, firm of foot

وَأَنَّهُ لجدير في رياسته

وَأَنَّهُ لجدير في رياسته

بِالسَبق وَالرفق بِالمَخدوم وَالخَدم

بِالسَبق وَالرفق بِالمَخدوم وَالخَدم

And that in his leadership he is truly fit

And that he is worthy in his leadership

to lead the way and treat master and servants gently?

Of preceding and gentleness with the ruled and the servants

وَكَيفَ تُحصَر أَوصاف لَهُ مُلِئت

وَكَيفَ تُحصَر أَوصاف لَهُ مُلِئت

بِها الصَحائف مِن نثرٍ وَمنتظم

بِها الصَحائف مِن نثرٍ وَمنتظم

And how can his qualities be encompassed, when

And how can his descriptions in which

pages are filled with them in prose and verse?

The pages are filled with prose and verse be enumerated

أَم كَيفَ يُحصي مُجيدٌ في مَدائحه

أَم كَيفَ يُحصي مُجيدٌ في مَدائحه

ما فيهِ مِن كَرم الأَخلاق وَالشِيَم

ما فيهِ مِن كَرم الأَخلاق وَالشِيَم

Or how can a skilled panegyrist enumerate, in his praises,

Or how can a praiser in his praises

the nobility of character and disposition within him?

Enumerate what is in him of the generosity of morals and qualities

وَقَد تنزه عَن ندٍّ يُماثله

وَقَد تنزه عَن ندٍّ يُماثله

فيما يَعود بِهِ نفع عَلى الأُمم

فيما يَعود بِهِ نفع عَلى الأُمم

And he is above having any peer to equal him

And he is far above any peer who can equal him

in the benefits he brings to nations.

In what benefits he brings upon the nations

وَحَيث إِن مَبانيه مؤسسة

وَحَيث إِن مَبانيه مؤسسة

عَلى قَواعد حفظ العَهد وَالذمم

عَلى قَواعد حفظ العَهد وَالذمم

And since his structures are founded

And where his foundations are established

on the principles of honoring covenants and obligations,

On the basis of keeping promises and covenants

وَبذل ما فيهِ إِصلاح وَمنفعة

وَبذل ما فيهِ إِصلاح وَمنفعة

بمصر للناس مِن عرب وَمِن عَجَم

بمصر للناس مِن عرب وَمِن عَجَم

and providing what brings reform and benefit

And giving what in it reforms and benefits

in Egypt to people, Arab and non-Arab,

Egypt for the people, Arabs and non-Arabs

وطيّ ما كانَ قَبل الآن مُنتَشِراً

وطيّ ما كانَ قَبل الآن مُنتَشِراً

مِن التَعدّي وَسَلب المال وَالنعم

مِن التَعدّي وَسَلب المال وَالنعم

and ending what, before now, was widespread

And folding what was before spread

of aggression and the plunder of wealth and blessings,

Of transgression and looting of wealth and blessings

بَث التمدّنَ في أَرجائِها وَبِهِ

بَث التمدّنَ في أَرجائِها وَبِهِ

نَفَى التوحشَ عَنها بارئُ النسم

نَفَى التوحشَ عَنها بارئُ النسم

he spread civilization throughout her lands, and through him

Spreading civilization in its outskirts, and with it

the Creator of souls banished savagery from her.

He eliminated savagery from it, the creator of breaths

وَهوَ الَّذي جاوب الصَدر الجَليل عَلى

وَهوَ الَّذي جاوب الصَدر الجَليل عَلى

إِنشاء أَشياء قَد دلت عَلى العِظَم

إِنشاء أَشياء قَد دلت عَلى العِظَم

And it was he who answered the illustrious chief regarding

And it is he who corresponded to the noble breast to

the establishment of things that testified to greatness.

Establish things that indicated magnificence

مِنها مجالس للإنصاف قَد بُزِلَت

مِنها مجالس للإنصاف قَد بُزِلَت

أَعضاؤُها في القَضا وَالحكم مِن تُهَم

أَعضاؤُها في القَضا وَالحكم مِن تُهَم

Among them are councils for justice, whose

Among them councils of justice whose members

members were cleared of suspicion in adjudication and judgment.

In judging and ruling were appointed from accusations

فَكم قَضايا بِها انحلت مَشاكلها

فَكم قَضايا بِها انحلت مَشاكلها

وَأَنتَجَت بَعدَ طُول اليَأس وَالعقم

وَأَنتَجَت بَعدَ طُول اليَأس وَالعقم

So how many cases had their difficulties resolved in them,

So how many cases through them complications were solved

and bore fruit after long despair and barrenness!

And produced after long despair and infertility

لِأَنَّها مِن سَنا أَنواره اقتبست

لِأَنَّها مِن سَنا أَنواره اقتبست

ما قَد جَلا غَيهَب الأَوهام وَالظلم

ما قَد جَلا غَيهَب الأَوهام وَالظلم

For they borrowed from the radiance of his lights

Because from the radiance of his lights they drew

what dispelled the gloom of illusions and darkness.

What illuminated the horizons of illusions and injustice

وَللدواوين مِنها في إِدارتها

وَللدواوين مِنها في إِدارتها

أَبهى نِظام بَديع غَير منخرم

أَبهى نِظام بَديع غَير منخرم

And through them the bureaus have, in their administration,

And for the offices among them in their administration

a most splendid, wondrous, unbroken order.

Most wondrous, beautiful system not ruptured

وَللأقاليم أَرزاقٌ مضاعفةٌ

وَللأقاليم أَرزاقٌ مضاعفةٌ

بحسن تَدبيره تَزداد في القيم

بحسن تَدبيره تَزداد في القيم

And the provinces have doubled revenues,

And for the regions multiplied sustenances

increasing in value through his sound management.

By his good management they increase in value

وَللمصالح مِنهُ صحةٌ وَبِهِ

وَللمصالح مِنهُ صحةٌ وَبِهِ

قَد زالَ عَن جسمها ما كانَ مِن سقم

قَد زالَ عَن جسمها ما كانَ مِن سقم

And the public services gain health from him; through him

And for the interests from him health, and with him

the sickness that was in their body has departed.

What was of disease has been removed from its body

وَمُذ رَأى أَنَّهُ لا بد مِن حجج

وَمُذ رَأى أَنَّهُ لا بد مِن حجج

لقمع من ضل عَن إِرشاده وَعمي

لقمع من ضل عَن إِرشاده وَعمي

And when he saw that proofs were indispensable

And since he saw that it is inevitable to have proofs

to restrain whoever strayed from his guidance and went blind,

To suppress those who strayed from his guidance and blinded

وَردعه بِالقوانين الَّتي صدرت

وَردعه بِالقوانين الَّتي صدرت

أَحكامها بِقَرارٍ كاشف الغمم

أَحكامها بِقَرارٍ كاشف الغمم

and deter him through the laws whose

And deter him with the laws that were issued

provisions were issued by a decree dispelling gloom,

Whose rulings were pronounced with a decision dispelling doubts

قضى بتعريبها حَتّى يَكون لَها

قضى بتعريبها حَتّى يَكون لَها

في مصر أَمرٌ لَهُ يَنقاد كُل كَمِي

في مصر أَمرٌ لَهُ يَنقاد كُل كَمِي

he ordered their translation into Arabic, so that they might have

He decreed to translate them so that for them

in Egypt an authority to which every armored warrior would submit.

In Egypt there would be a matter to which every mute submits

فَاِختار أَربعةً منا ورتبهم

فَاِختار أَربعةً منا ورتبهم

مَع الرَئيس لهذا الشأن في قلم

مَع الرَئيس لهذا الشأن في قلم

So he chose four of us and appointed them

So he chose four of us and arranged them

with the chief, in a bureau for this task.

With the president for this matter in an office

وَاختصَّ كُلٌّ بِقانونٍ فترجمه

وَاختصَّ كُلٌّ بِقانونٍ فترجمه

بسرعةٍ وَبَيانٍ واضح الكلم

بسرعةٍ وَبَيانٍ واضح الكلم

And each took charge of a law and translated it

And each specialized in a law and translated it

swiftly, with an exposition clear in its wording.

Quickly, eloquently, and clear in expression

وَإننا مِن أَياديه عَلى ثقة

وَإننا مِن أَياديه عَلى ثقة

بِأَنَّها لَم تَزَل تنهلّ كالديم

بِأَنَّها لَم تَزَل تنهلّ كالديم

And we are confident of his favors,

And we are from his hands confident

that they have never ceased to pour like steady rains.

That they have not ceased drawing like rainwater

وَحسبُنا أَنَّنا نلنا بِهِ شَرَفاً

وَحسبُنا أَنَّنا نلنا بِهِ شَرَفاً

لَما حُسبنا عَلى علياه مِن قدم

لَما حُسبنا عَلى علياه مِن قدم

And it is enough for us that through him we attained honor

And it suffices us that we attained through him an honor

when we were affiliated with his eminence long ago.

When we were counted among his veterans

لَكننا الآن نَرجو مِن مَكارمه

لَكننا الآن نَرجو مِن مَكارمه

عِندَ اِقتِسام العَطايا أَوفرَ القسم

عِندَ اِقتِسام العَطايا أَوفرَ القسم

But now we hope, from his generosity,

But now we hope from his generosity

for the fullest share when gifts are divided.

Upon dividing the gifts the most plentiful share

لازالَ يَزداد مِنّا في مَناقبه

لازالَ يَزداد مِنّا في مَناقبه

شُكراً بكل لِسانٍ ناطق وَفم

شُكراً بكل لِسانٍ ناطق وَفم

May he keep receiving from us, for his virtues,

He continues to increase from us in his virtues

ever more thanks through every speaking tongue and mouth.

Gratitude with every speaking tongue and mouth