1. يُسيلُ دماءَ الدَّارعين ودَمْعُهُ

    على رِقَّةِ المُسْتضعفين سَكوبُ

    He spills the blood of armored warriors, yet his tears

    flow freely at the frailty of the oppressed.

  2. ويكرُمُ ليناً في الودادِ وعُودُهُ

    على الروع والخطب المَهيب صليبُ

    He is noble and gentle in friendship, yet his timber

    is unyielding before terror and awe-inspiring calamity.

  3. ويَبعدُ بُعْدَ الشمس قدراً وإنه

    إلى نُصْرة المُسْتصرخين قريبُ

    He is as distant as the sun in rank, yet he

    is close at hand to aid those crying for help.

  4. وباسِمُ ثَغْرٍ والخُطوبُ كوالحٌ

    وعن كلِّ فُحشٍ معْرضٌ وقطوب

    His mouth smiles while calamities scowl,

    and he turns from every indecency with a frown.

  5. ويزدادُ حِلْماً سابغاً ورَغيبَةً

    إذا ما جُدوبٌ أرْهقتْ وذُنوبُ

    He grows in ample forbearance and bounty

    when droughts and sins bear down.

  6. وتُبْلي الليالي كلَّ ودٍّ ووِدُّه

    جديدٌ على رَيْب الزمانِ قَشيبُ

    Nights wear out every affection, yet his affection

    remains new and fresh despite time's vicissitudes.

  7. وزيرٌ كَرأدِ الصُّبح سامٍ إلى العلى

    له وعليه منْ تُقاهُ رَقيبُ

    A vizier like dawn's first light, soaring toward the heights,

    his piety keeps watch, both for him and against him.

  8. أمينٌ يخافُ اللّهَ في خلواتِهِ

    ويكْرُمُ منه مَشْهَدٌ ومَغيبُ

    Trustworthy, he fears God in his private hours,

    and his presence and absence alike are noble.

  9. لأوقاتِهِ أمْثالُها عَوْدُ فضْلِهِ

    وليس له في الأكْرَمينَ ضَريبُ

    His hours are alike as his bounty returns,

    yet among the most generous he has no equal.

  10. أبو جعفرٍ حامي حِمى كلِّ خائفٍ

    إذا ما عَوادٍ أجْلبتْ وخُطوبُ

    Abu Ja'far, guardian of every fearful soul's refuge,

    when adversities and calamities come clamoring.

  11. مُعينٌ على الجُلَّى وشيكٌ إلى القرى

    لَمُوحٌ لأعْقابِ الأمورِ لَبيبُ

    A helper in dire calamity, swift to offer hospitality,

    keen to perceive how affairs will end, discerning.

  12. مراجِلُه جيَّاشةٌ كحروبِهِ

    لَهُنّ دُخانٌ ساطعٌ وكُعوبُ

    His cauldrons seethe like his wars;

    theirs is soaring smoke and towering height.

  13. فحظُّ سباع الطير فُرسانُ بُهْمةٍ

    وكومٌ حُظوظُ الطَّارقينَ ونيبُ

    Thus birds of prey have a formidable host's horsemen as their share,

    while night guests' portions are high-humped camels and aged she-camels.

  14. فلا برحتْ غرس الخلافةِ دوْلَةٌ

    يَضوعُ ثَناها سائراً ويَطيبُ

    So may power never desert the caliphate's sapling,

    its praise wafting abroad, fragrant and sweet.

  15. وعاش مُطاعاً ما سمت جونةُ الضُّحى

    وما كانَ منها بالعَشِيِّ غُروبُ

    And may he live obeyed as long as the forenoon sun climbs high,

    and as long as it sets at evening.