1. صغ لابنِ لطف اللَه باشا مدحةً

    غراءَ مثل صفاته الغراءِ

    Compose a panegyric for the son of Lutf Allah Pasha,

    Resplendent, like his resplendent qualities.

  2. وانثر له حلل الثناء فإنه

    شهمٌ يليقُ به أجل ثناء

    And scatter before him robes of praise, for he is

    A noble-hearted man, worthy of the loftiest praise.

  3. وافى إلى بيروت وهي كئيبةٌ

    فجلا الهمومَ بكفهِ البيضاء

    He came to Beirut while she was sorrowful,

    So he dispelled her cares with his white hand.

  4. وأقامَ يُظهر من ضروب ذكائهِ

    ما حارَ فيه ربُّ كل ذكاءِ

    And he continued to display forms of his intelligence

    That baffled even a master of every kind of intelligence.

  5. جمع القلوبَ على الإخاء وقبلها

    كانت عبيدَ تخالف الأهواءِ

    He united hearts in brotherhood; before that,

    They had been slaves to discordant passions.

  6. إذا شاد للفقراءِ أمنعَ معقلٍ

    تحميهِ كل خريدةٍ غيداءِ

    When he built for the poor the most impregnable stronghold,

    Every graceful maiden protected it.

  7. والحسنُ بالإِحسانِ يكمل فضلهُ

    ما أحسنَ الإِحسانَ من حسناءِ

    And beauty's merit is perfected by beneficence;

    How beautiful is beneficence from a beautiful woman!

  8. شرفٌ إلى كرمٍ إلى أدبٍ إلى

    ظرفٍ إلى بأسٍ إلى استحياء

    Nobility joined to generosity, to courtesy, to

    Refinement, to valor, to modesty.

  9. سبحانَ من قسَمَ الحظوظَ على الورى

    إذ خصَّهُ منها بخيرِ عطاءِ

    Glory be to Him who apportioned fortunes among humankind,

    For He favored him with the finest of these gifts.

  10. فإِذا دعوتَ إلى السخاءِ وجدته

    جادت يداهُ بصادق الآلاءِ

    So when you call for generosity, you find him

    Bestowing genuine bounties with both hands.

  11. وإِذا دعوتَ إلى النزالِ رأَيتهُ

    فوق المطَهَّمِ فارسَ الهيجاءِ

    And when you call for battle, you see him

    Atop a well-built steed, a knight of the fray.

  12. يا من نشيدُ بذكرهِ وحديثُهُ

    سارت به الركبانُ في البيداءِ

    O you whose renown we extol, and whose story

    The riders have carried through the desert,

  13. عشقتك بيروت فأنت حبيبها

    المأمولُ في السراءِ والضرّاءِ

    Beirut has fallen in love with you, so you are her beloved,

    Her hope in prosperity and adversity.

  14. ولذاك واليها حباكَ هديةً

    ذا الكاسَ رمزَ مودَّةٍ وصفاءِ

    And so her governor bestowed on you a gift:

    This goblet, a token of affection and sincerity,

  15. عرفانَ ما صنعت يداكَ من الندى

    لا زلتَ خدنَ المجدِ والعلياءِ

    In recognition of the bounty your two hands have bestowed.

    May you ever remain the companion of glory and eminence.