أهلاً بذي الشرف الذي بقدومه

أهلاً بذي الشرف الذي بقدومه

سرّت دمشق سرور نفسٍ فائزه

سرّت دمشق سرور نفسٍ فائزه

Welcome to the man of honor, at whose arrival

With your noble arrival, Damascus rejoiced

Damascus rejoiced with the joy of a victorious soul.

With a triumphant, delighted soul

كاد العدى وأتى بأشرف رتبةٍ

كاد العدى وأتى بأشرف رتبةٍ

لم يعطها لسواه مَلك جائزه

لم يعطها لسواه مَلك جائزه

He outwitted the foes and came bearing the noblest rank,

The enemy almost arrived, but you came with the noblest stature

which no king has bestowed on anyone else as a reward.

That no king other than you could attain

لم ألق مثلك يا ابن شلهوب امرءاً

لم ألق مثلك يا ابن شلهوب امرءاً

دحرت عزائمه الخطوب البارزه

دحرت عزائمه الخطوب البارزه

Never have I met a man like you, O son of Shalhoub,

I have not met anyone like you, O son of Shalhub, a man

whose firm resolves drove back the looming calamities.

Whose resolute courage routs formidable trials

برّاً ترى بيمينه وشماله

برّاً ترى بيمينه وشماله

لججاً لأنواع الفضائل حائزه

لججاً لأنواع الفضائل حائزه

A benevolent man—at his right hand and his left you see

You are righteous, with generosity on your right and left

deep seas encompassing every kind of virtue.

And an ocean of virtues in your possession

باهوا بمتري البدر قلت مؤرخاً

باهوا بمتري البدر قلت مؤرخاً

باهوا فرتبة بدركم متمايزه

باهوا فرتبة بدركم متمايزه

They boasted of Mitri, the full moon; I said in a chronogram:

When I saw your radiant face I said, recording the date

Boast, for your full moon's rank is distinguished.

How sublime! For your rank is peerless