1. مَدحي لِذاتِكَ مَفروضٌ وَمَسنونٌ

    ومَقولي بِالثَنا وَالحَمدُ مَسنونُ

    My praise of you is a duty and an established custom.

    And my tongue is sharpened with commendation and praise.

  2. حَيثُ الفَضائِلُ وَالعَليا اِنفَرَدَت بِها

    وَالسَعدُ بِالحَظِّ مَلحوظٌ وَمَقرونُ

    For you alone possess the virtues and lofty excellence,

    And felicity is evident in fortune and coupled with it.

  3. ما كانَ بِدعاً أَخا الأَمجادِ حَيثُ يَرى

    بِكَ التَقَدُّمُ مَشغوفٌ وَمَفتونُ

    It was no wonder, O brother of glories, to see

    Advancement enamored of you and enthralled.

  4. وَكَيفَ يَغرُب أَعجابَ العَزيزِ بِكُم

    ذو الأَمرِ آمِنٌ وَالمَأمورُ مَأمونُ

    And how could the ruler's admiration for you seem strange?

    The commander is secure, and the one commanded is trusted.

  5. دَرى بِحُسنِ سَجاياكُم فَأَمَرَكُم

    وَاِعقِبِ الأَمرَ تَخويلٌ وَتَمكينُ

    He recognized your fine character, so he commissioned you,

    And the command was followed by authorization and empowerment.

  6. شُكراً لِنُعماهُ إِذ أَولاكَ مَنزِلَةً

    يَزينُها مِنكَ تَرتيبٌ وَتَفنينُ

    Thanks for his favor, for he granted you a rank

    Which your organization and artistry adorn.

  7. كَذا تَكونُ رِجالَ المُلكِ حِكمَتُها

    فَقَلَّما صادَفَ الأَحكامَ تَعيينُ

    Such should be the wisdom of the men of the realm;

    For rarely does an appointment accord with sound judgment.

  8. رَأى جَميلُ وَأَعمالٍ أَحاطَ بِها

    جَليلُ حَزمٍ وَإِتقانٌ وَتَحسينُ

    Fine judgment, and deeds encompassed by

    Noble resolve, mastery, and refinement.

  9. يَرجو بِها يا رَعاهُ اللَهُ مَصلَحَةً

    لِتُصلِحَ الناسَ وَالأَحوالَ وَالدينُ

    Through them he hopes—O may God preserve him!—for benefit,

    So that you may reform the people, conditions, and religion.

  10. بَنى لِمِصرَ وَمَن فيها أَساسَ عُلا

    فَفازَ بِالنَصرِ سُكّانٌ وَمَسكونُ

    He built for Egypt and those within it a foundation of glory,

    So inhabitants and inhabited land alike won victory.

  11. اِنظُر إِلى حِكمَةٍ جَلَت مَحاسِنَها

    وَالكُلُّ راضٍ وَما في الناسِ مَغبونُ

    Look at a wisdom that has revealed its beauties,

    And all are content, with no one among the people wronged.

  12. أَما سَمّوكَ فَالإِقبالُ أَرخَهُ

    سَعيدُ يُمنِكَ يا مَحمودٌ مَضمونُ

    As for your elevation, prosperity has dated it:

    Your happy fortune, O Mahmoud, is assured.