1. بني معروف جاحدكم جحود

    لآيات تسامت فوق عرف

    Bani Ma‘ruf, to deny you is to deny

    wonders that soar beyond the familiar.

  2. بكم تزهى العروبة إذ تراكم

    أعز خصالها للمستشف

    Arabdom glories in you, seeing you as

    its most cherished qualities, to the discerning eye.

  3. فما برحت شهامتكم تغنى

    ملاحم للتبع والتقفي

    Your gallantry has never ceased to sing

    epics to be followed and emulated.

  4. وما انفكت محارمكم شعاعا

    من الألق الإلهيّ الأعف

    And your sanctities have remained a ray

    of the purest divine radiance.

  5. وما زالت شجاعتكم ملاذا

    وحصنا يوم إرهاق وعسف

    And your courage has remained a refuge

    and a fortress in times of duress and tyranny.

  6. وأن التضحيات لكم شعار

    وأعظمها يبالغ في التخفي

    And sacrifices are your watchword,

    and the greatest go furthest in remaining hidden.

  7. كذاك الشمس كم فاضت حياة

    وما منت وتعطي وهي تخفي

    So too the sun—how often it has overflowed with life,

    and never vaunted its favors, giving in concealment.

  8. وهل جبل الدروز سوى منار

    سليل الشمس في وحي وعطف

    And is Jabal al-Druze anything but a beacon,

    a scion of the sun in inspiration and tenderness?

  9. تقبّله فتمنحه حياة

    ويلثمها وفيا خلف شف

    She kisses him, and so grants him life,

    and he kisses her, faithful behind a sheer veil.

  10. وحين تبادلا حبا بحب

    وحين تمازجا رشفا برشف

    And when they exchanged love for love,

    and when they mingled sip with sip,

  11. تمخض بالحياة حياة شعب

    أبي عز في جبل ونعف

    he brought forth life—the life of a people

    unyielding, grown mighty on mountain and spur.

  12. فدوّت في العصور مزمجرات

    دويّ السيل للسهل المسف

    Then thunderous cries resounded through the ages,

    with the torrent’s roar toward the low-lying plain.

  13. وخلتنا على الأيام نغنى

    بسيرته برغم المستخف

    And I imagined us, through the days, singing

    of its history, despite the scoffer.

  14. ذكرت رجاله الأخيار حولي

    عزاء لي ومثلي شبه منفي

    I recalled its virtuous men around me,

    a solace to me, for one like me is all but exiled.

  15. فزادوني بسيرتهم ولوعا

    بإقدامي وبأسا رغم ضعفي

    So their example increased my ardor

    for bold action, and my valor despite my weakness.

  16. كذلك نخوة الأبطال منهم

    فكل مفرد بمكان ألف

    Such is the noble spirit of their heroes:

    each individual stands in place of a thousand.

  17. وأما دينهم فندى ونبل

    وجم مروءة وجفاء خلف

    And as for their faith, it is generosity and nobility,

    abundant chivalry, and rejection of broken promises.

  18. وحرياتهم قدس معلى

    وقد ثاروا على غل ورشف

    And their freedoms are an exalted sanctuary,

    and they have risen against fetters and being sucked dry.

  19. وهم في قلّة أغلى تراثا

    وأروع من جحافل لا توفي

    And though few, they are a more precious legacy

    and more splendid than legions that do not keep faith.

  20. وما سل المهند للتوفي

    كسل المشرفية للتشفي

    Nor is drawing the Indian-steel sword to claim one’s due

    like drawing a Mashrafi sword to slake vengeance.

  21. أباغي حظّه بقنا وخيل

    كباغيه بمنوال وحف

    Is one who seeks his fortune with lances and horses

    like one seeking it with a loom and a weaving batten?

  22. وما الجبل الوقور لجاذبيه

    على العلات كالجزء الأخف

    Nor is the stately mountain, to those who would pull it,

    for all its flaws, like a lighter fragment.