1. مسير قد ألمّ به هناء

    ودهرٌ كل ما فيه صفاءٌ

    A journey upon which happiness has alighted,

    and an age in which everything is serene;

  2. واقبال وسعد كل يوم

    يجدده صباحك والمساء

    and prosperity and good fortune, every day,

    renewed by your morning and evening;

  3. وعزٌ وافتخار وارتفع

    وتمكين ومجدٌ وارتقاء

    and honor and pride and rising high,

    and power and glory and ascent.

  4. فسر بالأمن في دعة وحفظ

    تحفّ بك السلامة والبقاء

    So travel safely, in ease and protection,

    with well-being and long life surrounding you.

  5. فارضٌ بنت عنها فهي قفر

    وارض قد حللت بها سماء

    For a land you have left is a wasteland,

    and a land where you have settled is a heaven.

  6. فيا شوقي لكم حين التنائي

    ويا اسني بكم حيث اللقاء

    Oh, my longing for you when we are far apart,

    and oh, my delight in you whenever we meet!

  7. اعيذك ان تغيب فدتك روحي

    وقد قلت لك الروح الفداء

    I pray you be spared absence; may my soul ransom you.

    And I have said: my soul is your ransom.

  8. فمن ان غبت يولينا جميلا

    ومن يعتادنا منه الحياء

    For who, if you are absent, will show us kindness?

    And whose life-giving rain will keep visiting us?

  9. ومن يجلو ظلام الفقر عنا

    وليس بغير وجهك يستضاء

    And who will dispel poverty's darkness from us?

    No light is found except through your face.

  10. ومن يحلو به تكرار مدحي

    اذا ما المدح طرزه الثناء

    And who will sweeten the repetition of my praise,

    when commendation embroiders that praise?

  11. ومن يحنو على ايتام نظمي

    وانت كفيلها ولك الولاء

    And who will cherish the orphans of my verse?

    You are their guardian, and their allegiance is yours.

  12. فقربي من حياتك لي نعيم

    وبعدي عن نداك هو الشقاء

    To be near your living presence is bliss to me,

    and distance from your bounty is misery.

  13. فصبرا يا دمشق الشام صبرا

    ويا مصر به فلك الهناء

    So patience, Damascus of al-Sham, patience!

    And O Egypt, happiness is yours through him!

  14. فبحر الجود قد وافاك حقا

    وزادك بهجة هذا الوفاء

    For the sea of generosity has truly come to you,

    and this fulfillment has increased your splendor.

  15. امام بالنقى والحق يقضي

    وليس لعز علياه انقضاء

    An imam who judges with purity and truth,

    whose lofty honor knows no end.

  16. شهاب قد توقد من ذكاء

    وعم اخا الشذا منه الذكاء

    A meteor kindled by brilliance,

    and his rich scent has enveloped the brother of fragrance.

  17. غنيت بمدحه فطربت شوقا

    وذو الاشواق يطربه الغناء

    I sang his praises and thrilled with longing,

    for song enraptures one possessed of longing.

  18. بنائله ربيع الفضل يحيى

    اذا ما عز في الصيف الشتاء

    Through his bounty, the spring of beneficence revives,

    when winter is scarce in summer.

  19. وكم قد شاد مجدا في ابتداء

    على العيا عليه الانتهاء

    How often he has built glory at the very outset,

    at which even the heights must reach their end.

  20. واعرب مجده عما ابتناه

    فيالك معرب فيه البناء

    His glory has declared what he has built:

    what an expressive man, yet fixed in form!

  21. تراه مفردا علما ينادي

    له بالرفع يختص النداء

    You see him singular, a renowned name when called;

    his form of address is distinguished by elevation.

  22. عطاياه السنية ليس تخفى

    وضوء الشمس ليس به خفاء

    His splendid gifts are never hidden,

    and sunlight knows no concealment.

  23. له وجه يحدث عنه بشر

    ويروي من سماحته عطاء

    He has a face whose cheerfulness speaks for him,

    and his giving recounts his generosity.

  24. فيا من بالهبات له اغتناء

    ومن عنابه زال العناء

    O you whose wealth is found in giving,

    and whose care makes hardship disappear,

  25. لبابك راجيا قد جئت اسعى

    وانت لنا نعم نعم الرجاء

    I have come striving to your door, full of hope,

    and you are blessings to us—what an excellent hope!

  26. فجد واجبر لديك كسير قلبي

    فداء الفقر منك له دواء

    So give, and mend my broken heart before you,

    for poverty's sickness has its cure from you.

  27. فدم في نعمة وكمال سعد

    لك الخدم الموالي والاماء

    May you endure in blessing and perfect good fortune;

    servants, retainers, and slave women are yours.

  28. وسدوا رق المعالي وابق فردا

    شهابا للانام به اهتداء

    Rule, ascend the heights, and remain unique,

    a meteor by which mankind finds guidance.

  29. فلا زالت طباقك عاليات

    على اعلى السماك لها سماء

    May your tiers remain ever lofty,

    their heaven above al-Simak's highest reach.

  30. ولا برحت بيوتك في انتظام

    ومن حسن الختام لها ابتداء

    And may your houses remain in harmony,

    and may their beginnings spring from a graceful close.

  31. ودام لك الهنا ما دام صبح

    ومن مشكاته لمَعَ الضياء

    May happiness last for you as long as dawn endures,

    and radiance shines out from its lamp-niche.