ألا إن شكر الصنع حق لمنعم

ألا إن شكر الصنع حق لمنعم

فشكر الآلاء الخديو المعظم

فشكر الآلاء الخديو المعظم

Lo, gratitude for kindness is a benefactor’s due.

Indeed, gratitude for kindness is a right for the benefactor,

So thanks for the blessings of the exalted Khedive.

So thanking favors is due to the magnificent Khedive,

مليك له في الجود فضل ومفخر

مليك له في الجود فضل ومفخر

على كل منهلّ من السحب مرهم

على كل منهلّ من السحب مرهم

A sovereign with distinction and pride in his generosity,

A king who has precedence and pride in generosity,

Surpassing every cloud that pours down gentle rain.

Above all other clouds that pour heavy rain.

بعيد مجال الشوط في كل غاية

بعيد مجال الشوط في كل غاية

من الفخر دان للندى والتكرم

من الفخر دان للندى والتكرم

Far-reaching in his race toward every goal

His feats reach far in every field,

Of glory, yet near to generosity and gracious giving.

He is humbly obedient to the dew and generosity.

تلاقي أمور الملك خوف تلافها

تلاقي أمور الملك خوف تلافها

بحكمة وضاح من الرأي محكم

بحكمة وضاح من الرأي محكم

You confront the affairs of rule, fearing their ruin,

The affairs of the king meet with fear of their loss,

With the wisdom of one clear-sighted and sound in judgment.

With brilliant wisdom and solid opinion.

فبو أظل الأمر كل مروّع

فبو أظل الأمر كل مروّع

وروّى بفياض الندى كل معدم

وروّى بفياض الندى كل معدم

So he sheltered every frightened soul [opening wording unclear].

So he shaded command with every frightened one,

And quenched every destitute person’s thirst with overflowing bounty.

And watered every deprived one with abundant dew.

وأجرى زلال العفو صفواً غيره

وأجرى زلال العفو صفواً غيره

ولولا التقى شابته صبغة عندم

ولولا التقى شابته صبغة عندم

And made pardon’s limpid water flow pure [final word unclear].

And he made the purity of pardon flow gently,

And but for piety, crimson ʿandam dye would have tinged it.

And were it not for piety, his dye would be that of clemency.

وقد حفني من فيض نعماه بالرضا

وقد حفني من فيض نعماه بالرضا

وأردفه فضلا باحسان منعم

وأردفه فضلا باحسان منعم

And indeed he enfolded me in favor from his overflowing bounty,

And he has enveloped me in the abundance of his blessings and contentment,

And followed it, as a grace, with a benefactor’s kindness.

And followed up with more favor and kindness.

وأوردني من راحه نشوة المنى

وأوردني من راحه نشوة المنى

فلا بد لي في مدحه من ترنم

فلا بد لي في مدحه من ترنم

And gave me, from his wine, the rapture of wishes.

And he let me taste from the bliss of attainment,

So I cannot but sing his praise.

So I have no choice but to sing his praises.

سأشكره النعماء ما عانقت يدي

سأشكره النعماء ما عانقت يدي

يراعي وما استولى على منطق فمي

يراعي وما استولى على منطق فمي

I shall thank him for his bounty as long as my hand clasps

I will thank him for favors as long as my hands embrace,

My reed pen, and as long as my mouth commands speech.

And for as long as speech flows from my mouth.

فلا زال محروس الحمى متمتعاً

فلا زال محروس الحمى متمتعاً

مع الخيرة الأشبال في خير أنعم

مع الخيرة الأشبال في خير أنعم

So may he ever remain, his domain protected, enjoying

So he remains protected and enjoying favor,

With the choicest lion cubs, amid the finest blessings.

Among the best youth in the best comfort.