أفيis it on كلevery يومday يشهدbeholds النيلthe Nile نابغاًa genius
أفي كل يوم يشهد النيل نابغاً
يعيشhe lives فنرجوهso we place our hopes in him ويقضيand he dies فنجزعُso we grieve
يعيش فنرجوه ويقضي فنجزعُ
Does the Nile behold a genius every day,
Does the Nile witness the birth of a genius every day
who lives, so we place our hopes in him, and dies, so we grieve?
We hope he lives so we rejoice, he dies so we grieve
وليسand there is not لكمfor you فيat موسمthe celebration الحيof the living man مظهرa visible presence
وليس لكم في موسم الحي مظهر
وليسand there is not لكمfor you فيat مأتمthe funeral gathering الميتof the dead man مفزعa refuge
وليس لكم في مأتم الميت مفزع
And you have no presence at the living man's celebration,
You have no glory in the season of life
nor any refuge at the dead man's funeral.
You have no solace in the mourning of the dead
لقدindeed سئمتhave grown weary هذيthese الكراسيُّthe chairs مكثَكمyour lingering
لقد سئمت هذي الكراسيُّ مكثَكم
فهلاso why not شعرتُمyou noticed وهيwhile they تشكوcomplain وتضرعand plead
فهلا شعرتُم وهي تشكو وتضرع
These chairs have indeed grown weary of your lingering;
I'm tired of your lingering in these seats
why, then, have you not noticed, as they complain and plead?
Don't you feel it complaining and pleading?
فإنso if شئتمُyou wish أنto يعفوforgive النيلthe Nile عنكمُyou
فإن شئتمُ أن يعفو النيل عنكمُ
ويكبركمand esteem you أبناءthe sons مصرof Egypt ويرفعواand they exalt
ويكبركم أبناء مصر ويرفعوا
So if you wish the Nile to forgive you,
If you want the Nile to forgive you
and the sons of Egypt to esteem and exalt you,
And the children of Egypt to honor and exalt you
فخلواthen leave مقاليدthe keys الأمورof affairs لأهلهاto those qualified for them
فخلوا مقاليد الأمور لأهلها
إذاwhen أرعدthunders الجبارthe tyrant لمnot يتزعزعواthey waver
إذا أرعد الجبار لم يتزعزعوا
then leave the keys of affairs to those fit to hold them,
Leave the reins of power to its people
who do not waver when the tyrant thunders.
When the tyrant thunders they won't waver
إذنthen لرأيتمyou would have seen ماwhat رأىhe saw منof كرامةhonor
إذن لرأيتم ما رأى من كرامة
ومرحمةand compassion ذاكthat الشهيدthe martyr المشيعescorted to burial
ومرحمة ذاك الشهيد المشيع
Then you would have known the honor
Then you'd see the dignity witnessed
and compassion shown to that martyr escorted to his grave.
And the mercy of that martyred hero