قالوا انتبِذْ قلت مهلاً

قالوا انتبِذْ قلت مهلاً

عندي نبيذٌ كثيرُ

عندي نبيذٌ كثيرُ

They said, “Make wine!” I said, “Wait!”

They said "drink!" I said "wait,

I have wine in plenty.

I have plenty of wine.

ما عاش لي ابن سعيدٍ

ما عاش لي ابن سعيدٍ

فإن شأني كبيرُ

فإن شأني كبيرُ

As long as Ibn Sa'id lives for me,

As long as Ibn Sa'eed lives,

Then my standing is indeed great.

my affair is momentous.

وكل ما أبتغيه

وكل ما أبتغيه

فالخطْب فيه يسير

فالخطْب فيه يسير

And everything I seek

All I seek,

Is an easy matter.

speaking of it is easy.

إذا كتبتُ إليه

إذا كتبتُ إليه

فليس شيء عسير

فليس شيء عسير

When I write to him,

When I write to him,

Then nothing is difficult.

nothing is difficult.

لي عنده بحر سُقيا

لي عنده بحر سُقيا

للفُلْك فيه مَسير

للفُلْك فيه مَسير

With him I have a sea of drink,

With him I have a sea of generosity

Where ships can sail.

in which ships can sail.

فتىً مُباح العطايا

فتىً مُباح العطايا

إذا اعتراه فقير

إذا اعتراه فقير

A young man whose gifts are freely given

A lord whose gifts are permitted

Whenever a poor man comes to him;

whenever a poor man faces him.

وللصديق ظهيرٌ

وللصديق ظهيرٌ

من عزه ونصير

من عزه ونصير

And for a friend, a supporter

And for the friend, a helper

Through his might, and a helper.

from his glory and supporter.

وباللطيف عليمٌ

وباللطيف عليمٌ

وبالخفيّ خبير

وبالخفيّ خبير

And he knows what is subtle;

And with the gentle, All-Knowing,

And is versed in what is hidden;

and with the unseen, All-Aware,

وبالثناء سميعٌ

وبالثناء سميعٌ

وبالجميل بصير

وبالجميل بصير

And he listens keenly to praise;

and with praise, All-Hearing,

And is discerning of what is good.

and with beauty, All-Seeing.

كم من رسولٍ بعثنا

كم من رسولٍ بعثنا

هُ نحوه يستمير

هُ نحوه يستمير

How many a messenger we have sent

How many messengers we sent

To him, seeking provisions!

heading towards him to take counsel,

وافاهُ وهْو رسولٌ

وافاهُ وهْو رسولٌ

وعاد وهو بشير

وعاد وهو بشير

He reached him as a messenger,

and he met them while a messenger

And returned as a bearer of glad tidings.

and returned while a giver of glad tidings.

قالوا فبرهنْ على ما

قالوا فبرهنْ على ما

تقول وهْو جدير

تقول وهْو جدير

They said, “Then give proof of what

They said "prove what

You say—and he is worthy.”

you say," and it is fitting.

قلت الرسول وعندي

قلت الرسول وعندي

للجاحد التنوير

للجاحد التنوير

I said, “The messenger!” And I have

I said "The messenger is with me

Enlightenment for the denier.

to enlighten the skeptic."

جيئوا به وكأن قدْ

جيئوا به وكأن قدْ

جاء النبيذ يطير

جاء النبيذ يطير

Bring him! And it was as though already

Bring him, as if the wine

The wine had come flying.

had come flying.

في ضمنيَ النجح من قب

في ضمنيَ النجح من قب

لِ أن يُشير مشير

لِ أن يُشير مشير

I guarantee success before

Success was in my protection

Any adviser offers counsel.

before any advisor gestured.

عُمِّرت ياابن سعيدٍ

عُمِّرت ياابن سعيدٍ

ما سرك التعمير

ما سرك التعمير

May you live long, O Ibn Sa'id,

You have lived long, O Ibn Sa'eed.

As long as long life delights you.

What is your secret of longevity?

فأنت للطالب العر

فأنت للطالب العر

ف روضةٌ وغدير

ف روضةٌ وغدير

For to the seeker of bounty, you are

For the seeker of nobility you are

A garden and a pool;

a meadow and stream,

وأنت للطالب العل

وأنت للطالب العل

م بحرُ علم غزير

م بحرُ علم غزير

And to the seeker of knowledge, you are

And for the seeker of knowledge you are

A vast sea of knowledge.

an abundant ocean of it.

على الكرام أمير

على الكرام أمير

وأنت ذاك الأمير

وأنت ذاك الأمير

A prince over the generous,

Over all nobles you are prince,

And you are that prince.

and you are that prince.

الله لي فيك من كلْ

الله لي فيك من كلْ

لِ ما أخاف مُجير

لِ ما أخاف مُجير

God, through you, from all

My God, in you I have

That I fear, grants me refuge.

for all I fear a protector.