جَنابُ نظامِ المُلك بحرٌ وردتُهٌ

جَنابُ نظامِ المُلك بحرٌ وردتُهٌ

على ظَمأٍ منِّي وأنتَ له جسرُ

على ظَمأٍ منِّي وأنتَ له جسرُ

The court of Nizam al-Mulk is a sea I came to drink from,

The realm of the King's system is an ocean, its flowers

in my thirst, and you are a bridge to it.

Are for my thirst, and you are a bridge over it

وأنت الذي أوردتَنِي بعد ما انطوى

وأنت الذي أوردتَنِي بعد ما انطوى

على غُلَّةٍ صدري وطالَ بيَ العَسْرُ

على غُلَّةٍ صدري وطالَ بيَ العَسْرُ

And you are the one who brought me to drink, after my breast had closed

You who let me drink after my chest was wrapped

upon burning thirst, and hardship had long beset me.

In the darkness of grief and hardship lasted long for me

وما يهتدِي صرفُ النوائبِ لامرئٍ

وما يهتدِي صرفُ النوائبِ لامرئٍ

وأنت لهُ من دونِ ما نابَهُ سِتْرُ

وأنت لهُ من دونِ ما نابَهُ سِتْرُ

Nor do the turns of misfortune find their way to a man

Fate does not guide anyone aright

while you are his protective screen against whatever befalls him.

And you are a veil for him beyond what befell him