إنِّي أرى صاحِبَ السُّلطانِ في ظُلَمٍ

إنِّي أرى صاحِبَ السُّلطانِ في ظُلَمٍ

ما مِثْلُهُنَّ إذا قاسَ الفتى ظُلَمُ

ما مِثْلُهُنَّ إذا قاسَ الفتى ظُلَمُ

Indeed, I see the ruler’s companion amid darknesses,

I see the friend of the sultan in darkness

No other darkness matches them when a young man compares.

None like them if the youth endures injustice

فجِسمُهُ تَعِبٌ والنَّفسُ مُزعِجَةٌ

فجِسمُهُ تَعِبٌ والنَّفسُ مُزعِجَةٌ

وعِرْضُهُ عُرْضَةٌ والدِّينُ مُنثَلِمُ

وعِرْضُهُ عُرْضَةٌ والدِّينُ مُنثَلِمُ

For his body is weary, and his soul brings disquiet;

His body is tired, his soul vexed

And his honor is vulnerable, and his faith impaired.

His honor vulnerable, his faith torn

هَذا إذا أشرقَتْ أيّامُ دَولِتهِ

هَذا إذا أشرقَتْ أيّامُ دَولِتهِ

والصَّيْلَمُ الإدُّ إنْ زَلَّتْ بهِ القَدَمُ

والصَّيْلَمُ الإدُّ إنْ زَلَّتْ بهِ القَدَمُ

This is when the days of his ascendancy shine bright;

This when the days of his state shine bright

And dreadful, crushing calamity awaits if his foot should slip.

And stumbling feet make his glory night