لاno عِزَّmight إِلّاexcept بِحَدِّthrough the edge of الصارِمِthe sharp sword الذَكَرِhard-tempered
لا عِزَّ إِلّا بِحَدِّ الصارِمِ الذَكَرِ
وَضَربِكَand your striking الصّيدَproud chieftains بَينَbetween الهامِthe heads وَالقَصَرِand the necks
وَضَربِكَ الصّيدَ بَينَ الهامِ وَالقَصَرِ
There is no might except through the edge of the hard-tempered sword,
No glory except with the sharp edge of the sword,
And your striking proud chieftains between head and neck,
And you striking prey between enthusiastic and aloof.
وَقَودِكَand your leading الخَيلَthe steeds تَمضيmoving onward فيin أَعِنَّتِهاtheir reins
وَقَودِكَ الخَيلَ تَمضي في أَعِنَّتِها
يُعاجِلُhastens العَزمresolve أُولاهاtheir foremost عَنahead of الخَبَرِthe news
يُعاجِلُ العَزم أُولاها عَن الخَبَرِ
And your leading steeds onward in their reins,
And your cavalry galloping in their zeal,
Resolve speeding their foremost ahead of the news.
Eagerness overtakes their leaders before news.
وَبِالطّوالِand with the long الرُدَينِيّاتِRudayni spears تُدركyou attain ماwhat
وَبِالطّوالِ الرُدَينِيّاتِ تُدرك ما
فَوقَabove المُنىdesires لاnot بِطولِthrough the length of الذَيلِthe robe-train وَالشَعَرِand the hair
فَوقَ المُنى لا بِطولِ الذَيلِ وَالشَعَرِ
With long Rudayni spears you attain what
And with thoroughbred horses you attain what is
Lies beyond desire, not through long robe-trains and hair.
Beyond wishes, not by tail and mane length.
ياO طالِبَseeker of المَجدِglory لاnot ينفَكُّceasing مُجتَهِداًstriving
يا طالِبَ المَجدِ لا ينفَكُّ مُجتَهِداً
هَوِّنease the burden عَلَيكَon yourself فَكَمfor how many وِردٍa coming to water وَلاand no صَدَرِreturn from water
هَوِّن عَلَيكَ فَكَم وِردٍ وَلا صَدَرِ
O seeker of glory, never ceasing to strive,
O seeker of glory, cease not striving
Ease your burden: how many come to water, yet never return!
Trivialize hardships, however frequent and wide.
فَكَمfor how many شَأىoutstripped شاءٍa seeker of العَلياhigh glory فَأَحرَزَهاand so won it
فَكَم شَأى شاءٍ العَليا فَأَحرَزَها
أَبوAbu سِنانٍSinan جَميلُnoble in الذِكرَrenown وَالسّيرِand deeds
أَبو سِنانٍ جَميلُ الذِكرَ وَالسّيرِ
How many seekers of high glory he has outstripped, winning it—
And how often an impassioned striver attained the sublime
Abu Sinan, noble in renown and deeds!
Abu Sinan, of beautiful mention and history.
السالِبُwho takes from الملِكَthe king الجَبّارَthe tyrannical مُهجَتَهُhis lifeblood
السالِبُ الملِكَ الجَبّارَ مُهجَتَهُ
وَالطاعِنُand who pierces الخَيلَthe steeds فيin اللَبّاتِthe upper breasts وَالثَغَرِand throat-hollows
وَالطاعِنُ الخَيلَ في اللَبّاتِ وَالثَغَرِ
Who takes the tyrant king's lifeblood,
Who wrested the kingdom from the despot,
And pierces steeds in breast and throat,
And lanced steeds in the thick of battle.
وَالمُمطِرُand who rains down الجودَbounty مِنfrom أَثناءِthe creases of راحَتِهِhis palm
وَالمُمطِرُ الجودَ مِن أَثناءِ راحَتِهِ
فَيضاًin torrents إِذاwhen ضَنَّتِwere sparing الأَنواءُthe rain-stars بِالمَطَرِwith the rain
فَيضاً إِذا ضَنَّتِ الأَنواءُ بِالمَطَرِ
And rains down bounty from the creases of his palm,
Who poured generosity in comfort’s midst,
In torrents, when the rain-stars withhold the rain.
A torrent when skies stingily withheld rain.
وَالعابِدُand the worshipper الزاهِدُthe ascetic الصَوّامُthe frequent faster إِنwhen حَمِيَتgrew hot
وَالعابِدُ الزاهِدُ الصَوّامُ إِن حَمِيَت
هَواجِرُthe noontides of الصَيفِsummer وَالقَوّامُand the constant prayer-keeper بِالسَحَرِat the predawn hour
هَواجِرُ الصَيفِ وَالقَوّامُ بِالسَحَرِ
And the worshipful ascetic, ever fasting when
The ascetic fasting devout if passionate,
Summer noontides blaze, and ever standing in prayer before dawn,
Braving summer's heat and waking at dawn.
وَالمُظهِرُand who manifests الحَقَّthe truth لاnot يَبغيseeks بِهِfor it عِوَضاًa reward
وَالمُظهِرُ الحَقَّ لا يَبغي بِهِ عِوَضاً
إِذwhen كانَwas طالِبُهُits seeker يَغدوgoing forth علَىin خَطَرِdanger
إِذ كانَ طالِبُهُ يَغدو علَى خَطَرِ
And making truth manifest, seeking no reward for it,
Who shows truth seeking no compensation,
When its seeker goes forth in peril.
When its seeker ventures into danger.
وَالطاهِرُand pure in العِرضhonor مِنfrom عَيبٍflaw وَمِنand from دَنَسٍstain
وَالطاهِرُ العِرض مِن عَيبٍ وَمِن دَنَسٍ
وَالسالِمُand sound in العُودَstock مِنfrom وَصمٍdefect وَمِنand from خَوَرِweakness
وَالسالِمُ العُودَ مِن وَصمٍ وَمِن خَوَرِ
And pure in honor, free from flaw or stain,
Of unblemished honor, free of faults and stains,
And sound of stock, free from defect or weakness.
And unmarred reputation, free of blame and shame.
ذِكرُmention of المَظالِمِinjustices وَالآثامِand sins إِنif ذُكِرَتthey are mentioned
ذِكرُ المَظالِمِ وَالآثامِ إِن ذُكِرَت
لَدَيهِin his presence وَالبُخلُand miserliness ذَنبٌa sin غَيرُnot مُغتَفَرِforgiven
لَدَيهِ وَالبُخلُ ذَنبٌ غَيرُ مُغتَفَرِ
Mention of injustices and sins, should they be voiced
Recalling wrongs and sins if remembered
Before him, and miserliness, are unforgivable sins.
In his presence - stinginess being unforgivable.
ياO طالِبَseeker of الرَزقِlivelihood فيin حِلٍّsettled residence وَمُرتَحَلٍand travel
يا طالِبَ الرَزقِ في حِلٍّ وَمُرتَحَلٍ
يَمِّمهُmake for him تَرضَyou will be content عَنِwith الأَيّامِthe days وَالقَدَرِand destiny
يَمِّمهُ تَرضَ عَنِ الأَيّامِ وَالقَدَرِ
O seeker of livelihood, at rest or on the road,
O seeker of sustenance, legally and abroad,
Make for him; you will be content with the days and destiny.
Let days and fate content you.
بَعيدُهُhis farthest reach لِذَويfor those with الآمالِhopes مُتَّدَعٌa resting place
بَعيدُهُ لِذَوي الآمالِ مُتَّدَعٌ
كَجَنَّةِlike the garden of الخُلدِeternity لاnot تَخلوis empty مِنَof الثَمَرِfruit
كَجَنَّةِ الخُلدِ لا تَخلو مِنَ الثَمَرِ
His farthest reach is a haven for those with hopes,
The distant seems attainable to dreamers
Like the garden of eternity, never lacking fruit.
Like eternal paradise, never devoid of fruit.
فَكُلُّfor every حَيٍّclan مِنَamong الأَحياءِthe clans يَعرِفُهُknows him
فَكُلُّ حَيٍّ مِنَ الأَحياءِ يَعرِفُهُ
يدعوهُcalls him بِالمَلِكِas the king الوَهّابِthe lavish giver لِلبِدَرِof moneybags
يدعوهُ بِالمَلِكِ الوَهّابِ لِلبِدَرِ
For every clan among the clans knows him,
Each living being recognizes its Giver,
Calling him the king who freely bestows moneybags.
Invoking Him: Dispenser of full moons.
وَياand O مَضيماًoppressed one أَمضَّtormented الضَيمُoppression مُهجَتَهُhis heart
وَيا مَضيماً أَمضَّ الضَيمُ مُهجَتَهُ
اِنزِلalight بِساحَتِهِin his courtyard تَنزِلyou will alight عَلىupon الظَفَرِvictory
اِنزِل بِساحَتِهِ تَنزِل عَلى الظَفَرِ
And O oppressed one, whose heart oppression has tormented,
O you who suffered injustice - resolve melted it -
Alight in his courtyard: you will alight upon victory.
Descend in its sphere and fortune shall favor you.
وَاِصفَعand slap بِنَعلِكَwith your sandal رَأسَthe head of الدَهرِTime واِسطُand pounce عَلىupon
وَاِصفَع بِنَعلِكَ رَأسَ الدَهرِ واِسطُ عَلى
أَحداثِهِits calamities سَطوَthe pounce of ضِرغامٍa lion عَلىupon حُمُرِwild asses
أَحداثِهِ سَطوَ ضِرغامٍ عَلى حُمُرِ
And slap Time's head with your sandal, and pounce upon
Bare your feet, stamp on the head of Time, and master
Its calamities as a lion pounces on wild asses.
Its events with a despot's tyranny on crimson.
وَلاand do not تَخَفfear عِندَهاthen مِنfrom بَأسِthe might of صَولَتِهِits onslaught
وَلا تَخَف عِندَها مِن بَأسِ صَولَتِهِ
فَلَيسَfor it does not يَملِكُcommand مِنany نَفعٍbenefit وَلاnor ضَرَرِharm
فَلَيسَ يَملِكُ مِن نَفعٍ وَلا ضَرَرِ
And fear not then the might of its onslaught,
Fear not its savage power in this,
For it commands neither benefit nor harm.
It has no power to harm or benefit.
فَكَمfor how many أَجارَhe sheltered عَلىagainst الأَيّامِthe days ذاone with مَضَضٍanguish
فَكَم أَجارَ عَلى الأَيّامِ ذا مَضَضٍ
يَبيتُspends the night يَلصِقُpressing مِنهُbecause of it الصَدرَthe breast بِالعَفَرِto the dust
يَبيتُ يَلصِقُ مِنهُ الصَدرَ بِالعَفَرِ
For he has sheltered many a sufferer against the days,
How often it sheltered, while days oppressed,
Who spent the night, in anguish, pressing his breast to the dust.
One who hugged misery all night.
وَكَمand how many أَغاثَhe rescued اِمرءاًa man أَضحىhad come to be وَمُنيتُهُand his wish
وَكَم أَغاثَ اِمرءاً أَضحى وَمُنيتُهُ
مَوتٌdeath يُؤَدّيleading إِلىto الفِردَوسِParadise أَوor سَقَرِSaqar
مَوتٌ يُؤَدّي إِلى الفِردَوسِ أَو سَقَرِ
And how many a man has he rescued, whose wish had become
How often it saved a man whose certain death
Death that leads to Paradise or to Saqar!
Led to Paradise or Hellfire.
وَكَمand how many مَشىwalked الخَيزَلىswaggeringly فيin ظِلِّthe shade of دَولَتِهِhis rule
وَكَم مَشى الخَيزَلى في ظِلِّ دَولَتِهِ
مَنwho كانَused to يَنسابُslink كَالعِلّوصِlike a jackal فيin الخُمُرِthe thickets
مَن كانَ يَنسابُ كَالعِلّوصِ في الخُمُرِ
And how many have swaggered in the shade of his rule,
How often the lame walked in its shade,
Who once slunk like a jackal through the thickets!
Like wine flowing smooth in cups.
ياO اِبنَson of الأُلىthose who شَيَّدُواraised بُنيانَthe edifice of مَجدِهِمُtheir glory
يا اِبنَ الأُلى شَيَّدُوا بُنيانَ مَجدِهِمُ
بِالجُودِwith generosity وَالبَأسِand valor لاnot الآجُرِّbricks وَالمَدَرِand clay
بِالجُودِ وَالبَأسِ لا الآجُرِّ وَالمَدَرِ
O son of those who raised the edifice of their glory,
O son of nobility, your forefathers built
With generosity and valor, not bricks and clay!
Glory’s edifice with generosity and courage, not bricks and stone.
نَماكَraised you لِلمجدِto glory آباءٌancestors أَقَرَّacknowledged لَهُمto them
نَماكَ لِلمجدِ آباءٌ أَقَرَّ لَهُم
بِالفَضلِfor excellence مَنwhoever كانَwas ذاpossessing سَمعٍhearing وَذاand possessing بَصَرِsight
بِالفَضلِ مَن كانَ ذا سَمعٍ وَذا بَصَرِ
Ancestors raised you to glory, acknowledged
Your lineage is famed for glory, confirmed
For their excellence by all with hearing and sight.
By the discerning, of hearing and sight.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen كانَتِthere were الأَنباءُtidings أَوor كُتِبَتwere written
قَومٌ إِذا كانَتِ الأَنباءُ أَو كُتِبَت
صَحائِفُthe pages of المَجدِglory كانُواthey were أَوَّلَthe beginning of السَطَرِthe line
صَحائِفُ المَجدِ كانُوا أَوَّلَ السَطَرِ
A people who, whenever tidings were told or
A people, if news came or glory’s pages written,
The pages of glory written, were at the head of the line.
They were the first line.
وَإِنand if هُمُthey كَتَبواwrite مَجداًglory بِسُمرِهِمُwith their brown spears
وَإِن هُمُ كَتَبوا مَجداً بِسُمرِهِمُ
فَخَطُّهُمthen their script بِمدَادٍin ink مِنof دَمٍblood هَدَرِshed without redress
فَخَطُّهُم بِمدَادٍ مِن دَمٍ هَدَرِ
And if they write glory with their brown spears,
If they wrote glory in crimson,
Their script is in ink of blood shed without redress.
Their script was by lifeblood spilled.
وَالشارِبونَand those who drink جِمامَfull pools of الماءِwater صَافِيَةًclear
وَالشارِبونَ جِمامَ الماءِ صَافِيَةً
وَيَشرَبُand drink الناسُthe people مِنfrom طينٍmud وَمِنand from كَدَرِmurk
وَيَشرَبُ الناسُ مِن طينٍ وَمِن كَدَرِ
And who drink from brimming pools of clear water,
Drinking cool pure water, while people drank
While others drink from mud and murk.
Of clay and sediment.
وَالمُوقِدونَand those who kindle إِذاwhen هَبَّتblew شَآمِيَةٌa northerly wind
وَالمُوقِدونَ إِذا هَبَّت شَآمِيَةٌ
نارَthe fire of الوَغىbattle تَحتَbeneath هاميpouring القَطرِrain بِالقِطرِwith molten copper
نارَ الوَغى تَحتَ هامي القَطرِ بِالقِطرِ
And who kindle, when a northerly wind blows,
Kindling, when hot winds blew, sparks into the bonfire of strife,
The fire of battle beneath pouring rain, with molten copper.
With drops igniting drops.
أُعيذُI seek protection for مَجدَكَyour glory مِنfrom عَينِthe eye of الجمالِbeauty فَقَدfor indeed
أُعيذُ مَجدَكَ مِن عَينِ الجمالِ فَقَد
أَراهُI see it فيin التِمِّperfection يَحكيresembling هالَةَthe halo of القَمَرِthe moon
أَراهُ في التِمِّ يَحكي هالَةَ القَمَرِ
I seek protection for your glory from the eye of beauty, for
I shield your glory from the evil eye, for I see it
I see it, in perfection, resembling the moon's halo.
In perfection, resembling the moon's halo.
جَمَعتَyou united شَملَthe company of المَعاليlofty virtues بَعدَafter تَفرِقَةٍscattering
جَمَعتَ شَملَ المَعالي بَعدَ تَفرِقَةٍ
وَصُنتَand you guarded وَجهَthe face of العُلاglory مِنfrom ذَلِكَthat القَتَرِsoot
وَصُنتَ وَجهَ العُلا مِن ذَلِكَ القَتَرِ
You united the ranks of lofty virtues after their scattering,
You united glory's broken tribes,
And guarded the face of glory from that soot.
And protected the face of nobility from disgrace.
أَطفَأتَyou extinguished ناراًa fire يُغَشّيshrouds الأَرضَthe earth لاهِبُهاits flame
أَطفَأتَ ناراً يُغَشّي الأَرضَ لاهِبُها
لَولاكَbut for you لَمnot تُبقِwould spare مِنany شَيءٍthing وَلَمand not تَذَرِwould leave
لَولاكَ لَم تُبقِ مِن شَيءٍ وَلَم تَذَرِ
You quenched a fire whose flame shrouded the earth;
You extinguished a blaze engulfing the land,
But for you, it would have spared nothing and left nothing.
Without you, nothing would remain or resist.
فَأَصبَحَتso began كُلُّevery أَرضٍland خافَfeared ساكِنُهاits inhabitant
فَأَصبَحَت كُلُّ أَرضٍ خافَ ساكِنُها
تَقولُto say دَعنيleave me وَسِرand travel قَصداًstraight إِلىto هَجَرِHajar
تَقولُ دَعني وَسِر قَصداً إِلى هَجَرِ
So every land whose inhabitants lived in fear began
So every land, its inhabitants now fear, says
To say: Leave me, and journey straight to Hajar;
“Leave me be, and head straight for Hijrah.”
وَاِجعَلَand make بِهاin it دارَa home for سَكنٍdwelling تَستَقِرُّyou may settle بِهاin it
وَاِجعَلَ بِها دارَ سَكنٍ تَستَقِرُّ بِها
عَمّاaway from what يُريبُكَunsettles you مِنof خَوفٍfear وَمِنand of ذُعرِterror
عَمّا يُريبُكَ مِن خَوفٍ وَمِن ذُعرِ
And make there a home in which to settle,
Make it your abode, residing peacefully,
Away from the fear and terror that unsettle you.
Safe from fear and dread.
مَتىwhenever تَحُلَّyou lodge بِهاin it تَحلُلyou will lodge لَدىwith مَلِكٍa king
مَتى تَحُلَّ بِها تَحلُل لَدى مَلِكٍ
بِالزُهدِin asceticism مُشتَمِلٍwrapped بِالعَدلِwith justice مُتَّزِرِgirded
بِالزُهدِ مُشتَمِلٍ بِالعَدلِ مُتَّزِرِ
Whenever you lodge there, you lodge with a king
When you settle therein, it will be under a King
Wrapped in asceticism and girded with justice.
Robed in ascetics’ rags and justice’s garb.
تَنامُsleep أَمناًsecurely رعاياهُhis subjects وَمُقلَتُهُand his eye
تَنامُ أَمناً رعاياهُ وَمُقلَتُهُ
وَقَلبُهُand his heart أَبَداًforever فيin غايَةِthe height of السَهَرِvigilance
وَقَلبُهُ أَبَداً في غايَةِ السَهَرِ
His subjects sleep secure, while his eye
His subjects sleep securely, his realm restful,
And his heart remain forever at the height of vigilance.
While his heart remains alert.
يَرىhe deems البَلِيَّةَa calamity أَنthat تَغدوcome in the morning رَعِيَّتُهُhis subjects
يَرى البَلِيَّةَ أَن تَغدو رَعِيَّتُهُ
وَأَنand that تَروحَcome in the evening بِناديهِat his assembly عَلىin حَذَرِcaution
وَأَن تَروحَ بِناديهِ عَلى حَذَرِ
He deems it a calamity that his subjects should come in the morning
He sees affliction befalling his flock at dawn,
And come at evening to his assembly on their guard.
And them returning by nightfall, cautious.
لاnot يَرهَبُfears الريمَthe grave مَنwhoever أَمسىspends the evening بِعقوَتِهِin his precinct
لا يَرهَبُ الريمَ مَن أَمسى بِعقوَتِهِ
وَلاand not يَمُنُّlays under obligation عَلَيهِupon him سابِحُthe swift-running one of البَقَرِthe cattle
وَلا يَمُنُّ عَلَيهِ سابِحُ البَقَرِ
No one who spends the evening in his precinct fears the grave,
Neither startling ostriches sharing his abode,
Nor does a swift-running bull lay him under obligation.
Nor favoring those who swim among cows.
وَلاand not يُرَوَّعُis terrified ذَوone possessing وَفرٍwealth يُجاوِرُهُdwelling beside him
وَلا يُرَوَّعُ ذَو وَفرٍ يُجاوِرُهُ
بِنَكبَةٍby a calamity مِنfrom مُقيمٍa resident أَوor أَخيa man of سَفَرِtravel
بِنَكبَةٍ مِن مُقيمٍ أَو أَخي سَفَرِ
And no man of wealth who dwells beside him is terrified
Nor alarmed if a neighbor betrays,
By a calamity from a resident or a traveler.
Be it resident or traveling companion.
لَكِنyet يَروعُhe terrifies العِداthe foes مِنهُfrom him بِذيwith a host of لَجَبٍclamor
لَكِن يَروعُ العِدا مِنهُ بِذي لَجَبٍ
كَاللَيلِlike night تَلمَعُflash فيهِin it البيضُbright blades بِالغَدَرِin the darkness
كَاللَيلِ تَلمَعُ فيهِ البيضُ بِالغَدَرِ
Yet he terrifies his foes with a clamorous host of his,
Rather, enemies dread his striking steed,
Like night, where bright blades flash through the darkness.
As blades glint treacherously in the night.
الطَعنُthe spear-thrusts مِنهُfrom him كَأَفواهِlike the mouths of المَزادِwaterskins إِذاwhen
الطَعنُ مِنهُ كَأَفواهِ المَزادِ إِذا
غُصَّتthey are filled full وَطَعنُand the thrusts of العِدىthe foes كَالوَخزِlike pricking بِالإِبَرِwith needles
غُصَّت وَطَعنُ العِدى كَالوَخزِ بِالإِبَرِ
His spear-wounds are like waterskin mouths when
His thrusts are like the mouths of wine decanters
They are swollen full; his foes' thrusts are like needle-pricks.
When brimming, and his blades piercing like needles.
ياO أَيُّهاO you الملكُthe king النَدبُthe gallant الَّذيwhose عُرِفَتwere known
يا أَيُّها الملكُ النَدبُ الَّذي عُرِفَت
لَهُto his credit المَناقِبُnoble deeds فيin بَدوٍthe desert وَفيand in حَضَرِsettled lands
لَهُ المَناقِبُ في بَدوٍ وَفي حَضَرِ
O gallant king, known
O King whose virtues in periods of calm and strife are known,
For noble deeds in the desert and in settled lands!
O glory of rule, crown of kings, nay, peak of peaks.
ياO زينَةَornament of المُلكِkingship ياO تاجَcrown of المُلوكِkings وَياand O
يا زينَةَ المُلكِ يا تاجَ المُلوكِ وَيا
فَخرَpride of المَمالِكِkingdoms بَلnay ياO غُرَّةَbright brow of الغُرَرِbright brows
فَخرَ المَمالِكِ بَل يا غُرَّةَ الغُرَرِ
O ornament of kingship, O crown of kings, and O
You are glory without horses or awe,
Pride of kingdoms—nay, O brightest of bright brows!
You are power without weakness or bounds.
أَنتَyou are الصَؤولُthe fierce attacker بَلاwithout خَيلٍarrogance وَلاnor دَهَشٍdismay
أَنتَ الصَؤولُ بَلا خَيلٍ وَلا دَهَشٍ
أَنتَyou are القَؤُولُthe eloquent speaker بِلاwithout عِيٍّfaltering speech وَلاnor حَصَرِtongue-tiedness
أَنتَ القَؤُولُ بِلا عِيٍّ وَلا حَصَرِ
You are fierce in attack, without arrogance or dismay.
You are protector without fear or dread,
You are eloquent, without faltering or speechlessness.
You are giver without reservation or stint.
أَنتَyou are الوَلِيُّthe protector بِلاwithout خَوفٍfear وَلاnor رَهَبٍdread
أَنتَ الوَلِيُّ بِلا خَوفٍ وَلا رَهَبٍ
أَنتَyou are السَخِيُّthe generous one بِلاwithout مَنٍّreminders of favors وَلاnor كَدَرِbitterness
أَنتَ السَخِيُّ بِلا مَنٍّ وَلا كَدَرِ
You are the protector, without fear or dread.
By God I swear, taking no exceptions,
You are generous, without reminders of favors or bitterness.
If not for you the noble would have no burdens left.
بِاللَهِby God أُقسِمُI swear لاnot مُستَثنِياًmaking an exception أَبَداًever
بِاللَهِ أُقسِمُ لا مُستَثنِياً أَبَداً
لَولاكَbut for you لَمnot يبقَwould remain لِلعَلياءِfor high glory مِنany وَزَرِrefuge
لَولاكَ لَم يبقَ لِلعَلياءِ مِن وَزَرِ
By God I swear, never making an exception:
The Bahrain valley would not be empty of you
But for you, no refuge for high glory would remain.
Nor would your foes outlast time’s march in their abodes.
وَلاand may not خَلَتbe empty باحَةُthe courtyard of البَحرَينِBahrain مِنكَof you وَلاnor may
وَلا خَلَت باحَةُ البَحرَينِ مِنكَ وَلا
زالَتcease عِداتُكَyour promises طُولَthroughout الدَهرِtime فيin قِصَرِshort delay
زالَت عِداتُكَ طُولَ الدَهرِ في قِصَرِ
And may Bahrain's courtyard never lack you, nor
You lived in lofty isolation, remote
Your promises ever cease, through all time, to be swiftly fulfilled.
From events, mishaps, and others.
وَعِشتَand may you live فيin عِزَّةٍmight قَعساءَunassailable نائِيَةٍfar removed
وَعِشتَ في عِزَّةٍ قَعساءَ نائِيَةٍ
مِنَfrom الحَوادِثِmisfortunes وَالآفاتِand afflictions وَالغيرِand reversals of fortune
مِنَ الحَوادِثِ وَالآفاتِ وَالغيرِ
And may you live in unassailable might, far removed
From misfortunes, afflictions, and reversals of fortune.
Partial English translation: 88 of 90 Arabic lines translated.