صبّ بمصرٍ حيث أولاده

صبّ بمصرٍ حيث أولاده

بالشامِ يذري الدمع مصبوبا

بالشامِ يذري الدمع مصبوبا

Lovesick for Egypt, where his children are,

He shed tears in Egypt, where his children are,

in Syria he sheds tears in torrents.

While in Damascus tears flow freely.

ذو كبد حرّى وهم بعضها

ذو كبد حرّى وهم بعضها

فالكلُّ يشكو الشوق ألهوبا

فالكلُّ يشكو الشوق ألهوبا

His liver burns, and they are part of it;

With a burning liver and anxious cares,

so all lament the blazing fire of longing.

So they all complain of yearning’s agony.

لو شاءَ أن يجمعَ شملي بهم

لو شاءَ أن يجمعَ شملي بهم

غوثُ الورى ما بتُّ مكروبا

غوثُ الورى ما بتُّ مكروبا

If he wished to reunite me with them—

Had the Succor of Creation wished to reunite me with them,

humankind's succor—I would not spend the night distressed.

I would not remain afflicted and distressed.

كافلُ دينِ الله سيفٌ له

كافلُ دينِ الله سيفٌ له

لا زالَ للأمةِ محبوبا

لا زالَ للأمةِ محبوبا

The guardian of God's faith, a sword in its service—

The defender of God’s religion owns a sword

may he ever be beloved by the community.

That remains beloved to the nation.

لو شقَّ صدرُ الليث عن قلبِه

لو شقَّ صدرُ الليث عن قلبِه

رأيت فيه اسمكَ مكتوبا

رأيت فيه اسمكَ مكتوبا

If the lion's breast were split open to reveal its heart,

If the lion’s chest were split open to reveal its heart,

you would see your name written within it,

My name would be found inscribed there.

بالقلمِ الرعبيّ من أجله

بالقلمِ الرعبيّ من أجله

فظلَّ قلبُ الليث مرعوبا

فظلَّ قلبُ الليث مرعوبا

with the pen of terror, on account of that name;

Written there with a dreadful pen,

and so the lion's heart remained terrified.

So the lion’s heart remained filled with dread.

لا زلت ذا عمرٍ به لا ترى

لا زلت ذا عمرٍ به لا ترى

إلاَّ صنيعَ الخيرِ محسوبا

إلاَّ صنيعَ الخيرِ محسوبا

May you ever live a life in which you see nothing

You still see me living out my days

but deeds of goodness reckoned to your credit.

Where only good deeds are counted.