كذا فليعانا ما أهم إذا اعتلا

كذا فليعانا ما أهم إذا اعتلا

فما مصلح كالرأي أمراً إذا اختلا

فما مصلح كالرأي أمراً إذا اختلا

Thus let what causes concern be tackled when it rises high.

Thus let him suffer, though important he be, when flawed,

For nothing mends a matter like judgment when it falls into disorder.

For naught like sound counsel avails when disturbed.

تولاه من ولى على الملك غيره

تولاه من ولى على الملك غيره

فزلزله تدبير من لم يكن أهلا

فزلزله تدبير من لم يكن أهلا

One whom another had set over the kingdom took charge of it,

He who ruled o’er the realm, though not apt for the task,

And the management of an unfit man shook it.

Was shaken by schemes of one unfit to rule.

تواصوا على تقليده ليقلدوا

تواصوا على تقليده ليقلدوا

فما أحسنوا عقدا ولا أحسنوا حلا

فما أحسنوا عقدا ولا أحسنوا حلا

They urged one another to appoint him, so they too might be appointed,

They conspired to obey him that they might command,

Yet they did neither binding nor unbinding well.

Yet made no fine covenant nor one that was sound.

ولا لاطفوا الاكفا ولكن تعاظموا

ولا لاطفوا الاكفا ولكن تعاظموا

تعاظم أهل الملك واحتقروا الكلا

تعاظم أهل الملك واحتقروا الكلا

Nor did they treat their equals gently; rather, they grew haughty,

They showed no kindness to weaklings but grew proud

With the haughtiness of royalty, and they despised everyone.

In their arrogance like those of status and might.

فلم يحتمل منهم وقالت عصابة

فلم يحتمل منهم وقالت عصابة

تطيع ولم يعرف علينا لهم فضلا

تطيع ولم يعرف علينا لهم فضلا

Their conduct was not tolerated, and a faction said:

He could not bear them, and thus did their party say:

‘Do you obey, though no superiority of theirs over us is known?’

"We obey; but he knows no merit in us or right."

فثاروا عليهم ثورة أسرفوا بها

فثاروا عليهم ثورة أسرفوا بها

وضل بها منهم عن الرشد من ضلا

وضل بها منهم عن الرشد من ضلا

So they rose against them in a revolt in which they went too far,

Then they rose against him in revolt most profane

And through it, whoever among them strayed departed from right guidance.

And in this were led astray the misguided from right,

تعدوا حدوداً لا تدانا وأقدموا

تعدوا حدوداً لا تدانا وأقدموا

على فعلة ما قد سمعنا لها مثلا

على فعلة ما قد سمعنا لها مثلا

They crossed bounds not to be approached, and ventured

Transgressing bounds not to be transgressed, and bold

Upon a deed whose like we had never heard of.

In a deed we have never heard to parallel.

فلو رزقوا رشدا وجاؤك أولاً

فلو رزقوا رشدا وجاؤك أولاً

ولم يحدثوا الأمر العظيم ولا القتلا

ولم يحدثوا الأمر العظيم ولا القتلا

Had they been granted sound judgment and come to you at first,

Had they but shown wisdom and come to you first,

And not brought about that grave affair or the killing,

Not committing that mighty deed nor wrongful attacks,

لما مُكِنَ الشيطان منهم يضلهم

لما مُكِنَ الشيطان منهم يضلهم

ولا غور الرحمن رأيالهم أصلا

ولا غور الرحمن رأيالهم أصلا

Satan would not have been given power over them to mislead them,

Then Satan would not have seduced and misguided them

Nor would the Merciful have drained away their judgment altogether.

Nor would the Merciful's scheme for them come to naught.

ولكن أتوا بعد انتهاك محارم

ولكن أتوا بعد انتهاك محارم

وأمر عظيم ما جرى مثله قبلا

وأمر عظيم ما جرى مثله قبلا

But they came after violating sacred prohibitions,

But they came after violating the unlawful

And a grave affair whose like had never occurred before.

And mighty affair, none before like it was wrought.

فأغضيت عنهم والمهيمن ساخط

فأغضيت عنهم والمهيمن ساخط

فلم يلهموا إلا الغواية والجهلا

فلم يلهموا إلا الغواية والجهلا

So you turned a blind eye to them, while the Guardian was angry,

You became angry with them when the Overseer was wroth

And they were inspired only to error and ignorance.

And inspired them only to sin and benightedness.

وهبت لهم تلك الخطايا تكرما

وهبت لهم تلك الخطايا تكرما

وزدتهم فضلا على نيلهم نيلا

وزدتهم فضلا على نيلهم نيلا

You graciously forgave them those sins,

You forgave them their sins in your kindness sublime

And gave them further bounty beyond what they had received.

And granted them bounty beyond what they sought.

فما زادهم والله لم يرض عنهم

فما زادهم والله لم يرض عنهم

صنيعك إلا البغي والغدر والختلا

صنيعك إلا البغي والغدر والختلا

Yet—God was not pleased with them—nothing grew in them

Yet, by God, your favor, it pleased them naught,

Through your kindness but oppression, treachery, and deceit.

But increased only their mutiny, betrayal, and plots.

وغرهم عقد بنوه وأوثقوا

وغرهم عقد بنوه وأوثقوا

عراه ولو لا حسن رأيك ما أنحلا

عراه ولو لا حسن رأيك ما أنحلا

A pact they had built deceived them; they had made fast

Ensnared by their sons, who tightened their bonds

Its bonds, and but for your sound judgment it would not have unraveled.

Had you not wisely inspired some freedom in locks.

جذبت بحسن الرأي منهم ذوي النهي

جذبت بحسن الرأي منهم ذوي النهي

وأدنيت منهم من وجدت له عقلا

وأدنيت منهم من وجدت له عقلا

With sound judgment you drew the discerning among them to yourself,

Through wise counsel you drew away their censors

And brought close those among them in whom you found reason.

And brought those to you whom you found to have thought.

وما انقطع الإِحسان عنهم جميعهم

وما انقطع الإِحسان عنهم جميعهم

ولا أمسكت عنهم سحائبك العدلا

ولا أمسكت عنهم سحائبك العدلا

Your kindness was not cut off from any of them,

From them all gifts of grace you never withheld,

Nor did your clouds withhold justice from them.

Nor held back from them clouds of your justice distraught.

وقد زين الشيطان أعمالهم لهم

وقد زين الشيطان أعمالهم لهم

وأوهم منهم من طغى أنه الأعلا

وأوهم منهم من طغى أنه الأعلا

Satan had made their deeds seem fair to them,

But Satan made their deeds seem fair in their eyes

And made the transgressor among them think himself the highest.

And deluded the transgressors that they were beyond fault.

وأغراهم حتى تحير من بغى

وأغراهم حتى تحير من بغى

وأسرف أن يهدى إِلى أمه الثكلا

وأسرف أن يهدى إِلى أمه الثكلا

He incited them until the rebel was bewildered—

He seduced them until he who strayed in revolt

The one who had gone too far—at being delivered to his bereaved mother.

Thought that to find guidance would shame his own mother.

فهموا بأمر لا ينال بحيلة

فهموا بأمر لا ينال بحيلة

واين السما ممن يمد يداً شلا

واين السما ممن يمد يداً شلا

So they resolved on a thing no stratagem could attain;

They fancied an unattainable goal could be theirs,

How far is the sky from one who stretches out a paralyzed hand!

But heaven is far from one who would scale it by assault.

وأنت تريهم غفلة تحت يقظة

وأنت تريهم غفلة تحت يقظة

مددت لهم فيها ولم تعجل الحبلا

مددت لهم فيها ولم تعجل الحبلا

And you showed them heedlessness beneath vigilance,

You saw their heedlessness midst watchful alert

You gave them leeway in it and did not hasten to tighten the rope.

And stretched out to them though you hastened no ropes.

وقلت هم في الكف حيث توجهوا

وقلت هم في الكف حيث توجهوا

وأين من الليل المفر لمن ولىَّ

وأين من الليل المفر لمن ولىَّ

And you said: ‘They are in my hand, wherever they turn.’

You said they're in your grasp, go where they may,

Where can one who flees escape from the night?

While from the night there's no escape for one who flees.

وما يختشى الفوت القوى وإنما

وما يختشى الفوت القوى وإنما

يبيت يراعي الفرصة المرؤ إن ولىَّ

يبيت يراعي الفرصة المرؤ إن ولىَّ

The strong do not fear their foes escaping; rather,

The valiant fear no loss of chance but bide their time

A man in command spends the night watching for his opportunity.

Till the occasion to strike the foe presents itself.

حلمت ولما لم تسعهم جلودهم

حلمت ولما لم تسعهم جلودهم

وكاد يريك الحلم أقوالهم فعلا

وكاد يريك الحلم أقوالهم فعلا

You were forbearing; and when their skins could no longer contain them,

You showed patience when their hides proved confined

And forbearance nearly showed you their words turned to deeds,

For your forbearance, and their words nearly became acts.

أخذتهم أخذ العزيز بقدرة

أخذتهم أخذ العزيز بقدرة

فمزقتهم قتلا وشتتهم شملا

فمزقتهم قتلا وشتتهم شملا

You seized them with the mighty one's grasp, with power,

Then you seized them with your mighty power

And tore them apart in slaughter and scattered their company.

And rent them with death and scattered them broken.

وحل بهم مالم يكن في حسابهم

وحل بهم مالم يكن في حسابهم

ولا في حساب لا مرئ يدعي العقلا

ولا في حساب لا مرئ يدعي العقلا

What had never entered their reckoning befell them,

Upon them came what they never reckoned

Nor the reckoning of any man who claimed reason.

Nor any man claiming wisdom could have foreseen.

وكنا نراها فتنة قد تفاقمت

وكنا نراها فتنة قد تفاقمت

فما ينجلي ديجور ظلمائها سهلا

فما ينجلي ديجور ظلمائها سهلا

We had seen it as a sedition grown grievous,

We thought it a growing sedition then bam!

Whose deep black darkness would not easily clear.

Its darkness cleared not gently but swept in a storm.

وقلنا صواب الرأي تسكين أمرهم

وقلنا صواب الرأي تسكين أمرهم

وشربك إيام على كدر أولي

وشربك إيام على كدر أولي

We said: ‘The sound course is to calm their affair,

We deemed it wise to appease them, to swallow

And better that you drink for days from murky water.’

The bitter draft of their first trespasses,

وعندك فيهم غير ما كان عندنا

وعندك فيهم غير ما كان عندنا

ففاجأتهم بالسيف لا تقبل العذلا

ففاجأتهم بالسيف لا تقبل العذلا

But you held a view of them different from ours,

While you saw beyond what we saw in them

And took them unawares with the sword, accepting no reproach.

And shocked them with the sword heeding no excuse.

فما أنتطحت شاتان فيهم ولا رغا

فما أنتطحت شاتان فيهم ولا رغا

بعير ولا قال امرء لا مرئ مهلا

بعير ولا قال امرء لا مرئ مهلا

No two sheep clashed horns over them, nor did

Among them no camel lurched up to its knees

A camel bellow, nor one man say to another, ‘Wait!’

Nor brayed, nor did anyone cry: "Gently, take pause!"

وقام على ساق بك الملك واستوى

وقام على ساق بك الملك واستوى

على رجله لما وهبت له رجلا

على رجله لما وهبت له رجلا

Through you the kingdom rose on its leg and stood firm

On your power the kingdom rose and stood tall

On its foot, when you bestowed on it a leg.

When you gave it backbone by making it whole.

ودوخت أعداه فأخليت منهم

ودوخت أعداه فأخليت منهم

أماكن ماكنا نرى أنها تخلا

أماكن ماكنا نرى أنها تخلا

You subdued its enemies and cleared of them

You vanquished its enemies and emptied for it

Places we had never thought would be emptied.

Spaces we never imagined would be vacated.

ولم تبق إلا مخلصا في مودة

ولم تبق إلا مخلصا في مودة

يود بأن يحذو لكم جلده نعلا

يود بأن يحذو لكم جلده نعلا

You left none but one sincere in affection,

None remained but the loyal in friendship to you

Who wishes to cut his skin into a sandal for you,

Who would flay off their skin for sandals to grace your soles,

ومن هين في عينه قتله ابنه

ومن هين في عينه قتله ابنه

إذا ما رأى منه لك النصح قد قلا

إذا ما رأى منه لك النصح قد قلا

And one who thinks little of killing his son,

And those who thought it beneath them that their sons

If he saw that son's sincere loyalty to you diminish.

Be slain for counsel to you deemed vile and low.

أولئك أهل أن يزادوا كرامة

أولئك أهل أن يزادوا كرامة

وأن يرفعوا قدراً أن يكرموا نزلا

وأن يرفعوا قدراً أن يكرموا نزلا

Such men deserve to be granted greater honor,

To these belongs increase of honor

And raised in rank and honored with hospitality.

And rank raised high if they're to be graced hosts.

هنيئا لهذا الملك أنك ربه

هنيئا لهذا الملك أنك ربه

لقد زنته جودا لقد زنته عدلا

لقد زنته جودا لقد زنته عدلا

Happy this kingdom, that you are its lord!

Congratulations to this kingdom; you are its Lord.

Indeed you adorned it with generosity; indeed you adorned it with justice.

With kindness you weighted, with justice you measured its load.

وأيقن بالفتح المبين وأنه

وأيقن بالفتح المبين وأنه

بيحيى ابن إسماعيل قد أمن الخذلا

بيحيى ابن إسماعيل قد أمن الخذلا

And it is assured of manifest victory, and that

Convinced is it now of victory manifest, and

With Yahya ibn Ismail it is safe from being forsaken.

That with Yahya ibn Isma'il betrayal's foreclosed.

وإن قضاء الله قد قام دونه

وإن قضاء الله قد قام دونه

يقرب ما يهوى ويبعد مايقلا

يقرب ما يهوى ويبعد مايقلا

And God's decree has indeed stood in its defense,

And God's ordainment stands guard over it

Bringing near what it desires and keeping far what it hates.

To bring near what it desires and remove what is loathed.

كريم السجايا الطاهر الملك الذي

كريم السجايا الطاهر الملك الذي

محاسنه في الخلق أنباؤها تتلا

محاسنه في الخلق أنباؤها تتلا

Noble in nature is al-Tahir, the king whose

Noble of nature, untainted of any rule, he

Virtues are recounted among mankind.

Whose virtues people recount in their scrolls,

فيهنى المعالي مالها في جواره

فيهنى المعالي مالها في جواره

من الشرف المرفوع والمنصب الأعلى

من الشرف المرفوع والمنصب الأعلى

May lofty honors rejoice in what they have beside him:

Wherein glory is his in your proximity

Exalted honor and the highest station.

Of heightened office and rank supreme,

ويهنى الرعايا النوم في ظل عدله

ويهنى الرعايا النوم في ظل عدله

لقد مده من جنة فوقهم ظلا

لقد مده من جنة فوقهم ظلا

And may his subjects enjoy sleep in the shade of his justice;

And the masses are glad in the shade of his justice

Indeed, he has spread it above them as a garden's shade.

For you spread over them a garden's canopy.

فأيديهم مرفوعة بالدعا له

فأيديهم مرفوعة بالدعا له

وألسنهم تملى وأيديهم تملا

وألسنهم تملى وأيديهم تملا

Their hands are raised in prayer for him,

Their hands raised invoking blessings upon him

And their tongues dictate, while their hands are filled.

Their tongues dictate as their hands give fully.

أحب الملوك المال كي يخزنونه

أحب الملوك المال كي يخزنونه

وأحببته حتى تفرقه بذلا

وأحببته حتى تفرقه بذلا

Kings have loved wealth so that they might hoard it,

Kings love wealth to hoard; you loved to spend

But you have loved it so that you might scatter it in gifts.

Lavishing so as to disperse with open hands.

فلا ملك إلا ما بهب اكتسب الفتى

فلا ملك إلا ما بهب اكتسب الفتى

ثناء وذكراً لا يموت ولا يبلى

ثناء وذكراً لا يموت ولا يبلى

There is no true possession save that through which a man earns

No kingdom but what the youth gains with glory

Praise and remembrance that neither die nor fade.

And tale never dying or growing old.

لكل الكلمة العليا وربك جاعل

لكل الكلمة العليا وربك جاعل

لسائر من عاديته الكلمة السفلى

لسائر من عاديته الكلمة السفلى

Yours is the highest word, and your Lord assigns

To you belongs the final word, and your Lord

The lowest word to all whom you have opposed.

Will make the lowest word for those you fought.