أَرى كُلَّ شيءٍ في البسيطةِ قد نَما

أَرى كُلَّ شيءٍ في البسيطةِ قد نَما

بعدْلِك حتى قد نَمَت أَنجمُ السما

بعدْلِك حتى قد نَمَت أَنجمُ السما

I see that everything upon the earth has flourished—

I see everything on earth has grown

Through your justice—until even heaven’s stars have flourished.

through your justice—even the stars of heaven have grown.

تحلَّتْ بنجمٍ لا بل ابْتَسمتْ به

تحلَّتْ بنجمٍ لا بل ابْتَسمتْ به

ومن سَرَّه شيءٌ يَسُرُّ تبسَّمَا

ومن سَرَّه شيءٌ يَسُرُّ تبسَّمَا

It adorned itself with a star—no, rather, smiled through it;

Heaven adorned itself with a star—no, rather smiled with it;

And when a thing delights a man, its smile delights him.

and whoever is gladdened by something pleasing smiles.

وما بَرِحَ الكفَّ الخضيبُ مُعَطَّلاً

وما بَرِحَ الكفَّ الخضيبُ مُعَطَّلاً

فلما تحلَّى الدَّهرُ منكَ تختَّما

فلما تحلَّى الدَّهرُ منكَ تختَّما

The henna-dyed hand had long remained unadorned,

The Hennaed Hand had remained unadorned,

Until time, adorned by you, put on a signet ring.

then, when the age was adorned by you, it put on a ring.

فلا يفتَخِرْ جوُّ السماءِ بنجْمِه

فلا يفتَخِرْ جوُّ السماءِ بنجْمِه

فكم أَطلَعَتْ أَفعالُكَ الغُر أَنْجُما

فكم أَطلَعَتْ أَفعالُكَ الغُر أَنْجُما

Let heaven’s firmament not boast of its star:

Let the expanse of heaven not boast of its star,

How many stars your glorious deeds have brought forth!

for how many stars your radiant deeds have brought forth!

نجومُك ما أَعْيتْ على راصدٍ لها

نجومُك ما أَعْيتْ على راصدٍ لها

وذا النجمُ أَعْيَا راصداً ومنجما

وذا النجمُ أَعْيَا راصداً ومنجما

Your stars have never baffled an observer who watched them,

Your stars have never baffled an observer of them,

While this star has baffled observer and astrologer alike.

but this star has baffled both observer and astrologer.

تخالفت الأقوال فيه وجمجت

تخالفت الأقوال فيه وجمجت

ولم نر قولاً في معالِيكَ جَمْجَمَا

ولم نر قولاً في معالِيكَ جَمْجَمَا

Opinions differed over it, and tongues faltered,

Opinions about it have differed and faltered,

Yet we have never seen words about your glories falter.

but we have never seen a word about your noble achievements falter.

نراك نقلتَ الرُّمْحَ في الأُفْقِ راكِضاً

نراك نقلتَ الرُّمْحَ في الأُفْقِ راكِضاً

فأَبْقَيْت زُجّاً ثم أَلقيتَ لَهْذَما

فأَبْقَيْت زُجّاً ثم أَلقيتَ لَهْذَما

We see you sweep the lance across the horizon at a gallop,

We see that you carried the lance across the horizon at a gallop,

Leaving its butt behind, then casting forth its spearhead.

leaving a butt-spike, then hurling a keen spearhead.

وذا غلطٌ من فِكْرَتي إِذْ تَخَيَّلَتْ

وذا غلطٌ من فِكْرَتي إِذْ تَخَيَّلَتْ

وذا خَطَأٌ من خاطِري إِذ تَوَهَّما

وذا خَطَأٌ من خاطِري إِذ تَوَهَّما

But that was an error of my thought when it imagined,

Yet this is an error of my thinking when it imagined,

And a mistake of my mind when it supposed.

and a mistake of my mind when it fancied.

أَبوك هو النجم الذي من مَحَلِّه

أَبوك هو النجم الذي من مَحَلِّه

تطلَّع مُشْتاقاً إِليك مُسَلِّما

تطلَّع مُشْتاقاً إِليك مُسَلِّما

Your father is the star that, from its station,

Your father is the star that, from its dwelling,

Rises yearning toward you and offering its greeting.

looked forth, yearning for you and greeting you.

نُصرتَ بأَفلاكِ السماءِ فَشُهْبُهَا

نُصرتَ بأَفلاكِ السماءِ فَشُهْبُهَا

خميسٌ به تُرْدِي الخميسَ الْعَرَمْرَمَا

خميسٌ به تُرْدِي الخميسَ الْعَرَمْرَمَا

The spheres of heaven aided you, and their meteors

You have been aided by the spheres of heaven; their meteors

Are an army with which you destroy the countless host.

are an army with which you lay low the vast army.

فكم أَشرع الرمحُ السِّماكُ مُطاعِناً

فكم أَشرع الرمحُ السِّماكُ مُطاعِناً

عدوِّك حتَّى كادَ أَنْ يتَحطَّما

عدوِّك حتَّى كادَ أَنْ يتَحطَّما

How often al-Simāk leveled its lance, thrusting back and forth

How often al-Simak has leveled the lance, thrusting

Against your enemy, until it nearly shattered!

at your enemy until it nearly shattered!

وما مَنْ غَدا في صفْحِة الأَرْض حاكماً

وما مَنْ غَدا في صفْحِة الأَرْض حاكماً

كمن ظلَّ في أُفْق السماءِ مُحَكَّمَا

كمن ظلَّ في أُفْق السماءِ مُحَكَّمَا

No one who becomes a ruler upon the face of earth

No one who rules upon the face of the earth

Is like one established firmly on heaven’s horizon.

is like one invested with authority on heaven's horizon.

رَقِيتَ إِلى أَنْ لم تَجِد لَك مُرتَقَى

رَقِيتَ إِلى أَنْ لم تَجِد لَك مُرتَقَى

وأَقدمْت حتى لم تَجِدْ مُتَقَدَّما

وأَقدمْت حتى لم تَجِدْ مُتَقَدَّما

You rose until you found no further height to climb,

You have risen until you found no further height to climb,

And advanced until you found no one ahead.

and advanced until you found no further way ahead.

فما يُبرِم المقدارُ ما كنتَ ناقضاً

فما يُبرِم المقدارُ ما كنتَ ناقضاً

وما يَنْقُضُ المقدارُ ما كنت مُبرِما

وما يَنْقُضُ المقدارُ ما كنت مُبرِما

Fate ordains nothing that you would undo,

Fate does not bind what you undo,

Nor does fate undo what you have ordained.

nor does fate undo what you bind.

فِدىً لابن أَيوبَ النجومُ فإِنهم

فِدىً لابن أَيوبَ النجومُ فإِنهم

له خدم يُفدون منه المُخدَّما

له خدم يُفدون منه المُخدَّما

May the stars ransom the son of Ayyub, for they

May the stars be a ransom for Ibn Ayyub, for they

Are his servants, ready to ransom their master.

are his servants, offering themselves as ransom for their master.

وما زال أَعْلَى بالمكانةِ منهمُ

وما زال أَعْلَى بالمكانةِ منهمُ

وما زالَ منهمْ بالهِداية أَعْلما

وما زالَ منهمْ بالهِداية أَعْلما

He has always stood higher than they in rank,

He has always been higher than they in rank,

And has always known guidance better than they.

and has always surpassed them in knowledge of guidance.

فلا تَقْرِبوه بالملوك فإِنَّهُ

فلا تَقْرِبوه بالملوك فإِنَّهُ

أَجَلُّهُم أَرضاً وأَعلاهُم سَما

أَجَلُّهُم أَرضاً وأَعلاهُم سَما

Do not liken him to kings, for he is

Do not rank him alongside kings, for he is

Greater than they on earth and highest among them in heaven.

their greatest on earth and their highest in heaven.

يَخِفُّون جهلاً حين يحلُم قُدْرةً

يَخِفُّون جهلاً حين يحلُم قُدْرةً

ويَخْفَون ذُلاً حين يبدُو تعظّما

ويَخْفَون ذُلاً حين يبدُو تعظّما

They hide their ignorance when he shows clemency despite his power,

They act rashly in ignorance while he is forbearing through strength,

And hide their abasement when they display grandeur.

and vanish in humiliation while he appears in majesty.

إِذا بَخِلُوا أَعْطَى وإِن عَاقَبوا عَفا

إِذا بَخِلُوا أَعْطَى وإِن عَاقَبوا عَفا

وإِن غَدَرُوا أَوْفَى وإِن هَبَطُوا سَمَا

وإِن غَدَرُوا أَوْفَى وإِن هَبَطُوا سَمَا

When they withhold, he gives; when they punish, he pardons.

When they withhold, he gives; when they punish, he pardons.

When they betray, he keeps faith; when they descend, he soars.

When they betray, he keeps faith; when they sink, he rises.

فَسيرَتُه لم تُبقِ في الأَرْضِ ظالِماً

فَسيرَتُه لم تُبقِ في الأَرْضِ ظالِماً

ونائِلُه لم يُبق في الخلق مُعْدِمَا

ونائِلُه لم يُبق في الخلق مُعْدِمَا

His conduct has left no tyrant upon the earth,

His conduct has left no oppressor on earth,

And his bounty no destitute soul among creation.

and his bounty has left no destitute person among mankind.

له نَائِلٌ يَسْعى إِلى كُلِّ سَائِلٍ

له نَائِلٌ يَسْعى إِلى كُلِّ سَائِلٍ

فيطلبُه بالماءِ والزَّادِ أَيْنَما

فيطلبُه بالماءِ والزَّادِ أَيْنَما

His bounty hastens toward every petitioner,

He has a bounty that goes in search of every petitioner,

Seeking him out with water and provisions wherever he may be.

seeking him with water and provisions wherever he may be.

وكم أَفْسَدَتْ أَموالُه قاصداً له

وكم أَفْسَدَتْ أَموالُه قاصداً له

وقد يَرْجعُ الشِّيءُ الصحيحُ مُسقَّما

وقد يَرْجعُ الشِّيءُ الصحيحُ مُسقَّما

How many a seeker after him his riches have corrupted—

How often his wealth has spoiled one who sought him,

For even one who was sound may return diseased.

for a sound thing may return diseased.

أَتاهُ فأَلفاه رَبيعاً وقبلَه

أَتاهُ فأَلفاه رَبيعاً وقبلَه

رأَى كلَّ جود في الأَنام المُحرَّما

رأَى كلَّ جود في الأَنام المُحرَّما

He came to him and found him a springtime, though before him

He came to him and found him a springtime; before him,

He had seen every generosity among mankind withheld.

he had seen all generosity among mankind forbidden.

ويَحْسبُه أَسْرى إِليه وإِنَّما

ويَحْسبُه أَسْرى إِليه وإِنَّما

إِلى البَدْرِ أَسْرى أَو إِلى الْبَحر يَممَّا

إِلى البَدْرِ أَسْرى أَو إِلى الْبَحر يَممَّا

He thinks he journeyed by night merely to him, when in truth

He thinks it was to him he journeyed by night, yet in truth

He journeyed to the full moon—or made for the sea.

he journeyed to the full moon, or made for the sea.

أَصاب بكَ اللهُ البلادَ فَصَابَها

أَصاب بكَ اللهُ البلادَ فَصَابَها

وهل يُخْطِئُ المرمَى ورَبُّكَ قد رَمى

وهل يُخْطِئُ المرمَى ورَبُّكَ قد رَمى

Through you God struck the lands, and struck them home;

God struck the lands with you, and showered them with rain;

How can the target be missed when your Lord has cast the shot?

could He miss the mark when your Lord has shot?

ولو شَاءَ أَن يُغنِي الخلائقَ كلَّهم

ولو شَاءَ أَن يُغنِي الخلائقَ كلَّهم

لولاَّكَ أَرْزاقَ العِبادِ مُقَسِّما

لولاَّكَ أَرْزاقَ العِبادِ مُقَسِّما

Had He wished to enrich every creature,

If He wished to enrich all creatures,

He could have apportioned His servants’ provisions without you.

He would appoint you to distribute His servants' sustenance.

فَفَخْراً لقدْ أَصبحتَ للخلق مَالِكاً

فَفَخْراً لقدْ أَصبحتَ للخلق مَالِكاً

وأَصبحتَ فيهم للجميل متمِّما

وأَصبحتَ فيهم للجميل متمِّما

What glory! You have indeed become creation’s master,

So take pride: you have become master of mankind,

And among them the perfecter of all beauty.

and among them have become the perfecter of goodness.

وإِن أَخْطَئُوا لم يُخطِئُوا من جهالةٍ

وإِن أَخْطَئُوا لم يُخطِئُوا من جهالةٍ

عليكَ ولكن يُخْطِئُون لِتَحلُما

عليكَ ولكن يُخْطِئُون لِتَحلُما

If they err, they do not err from ignorance of you;

If they err, they do not err out of ignorance

Rather, they err so that you may show forbearance.

against you, but err so that you may show forbearance.

وسكتةُ حلم تُسْمع النَّهْيَ للنُّهى

وسكتةُ حلم تُسْمع النَّهْيَ للنُّهى

وشكوةُ حَزْم يَخْفِض الدَّم للدِّمَا

وشكوةُ حَزْم يَخْفِض الدَّم للدِّمَا

A silence born of clemency makes restraint audible to the wise;

A silence of forbearance makes prohibition heard by discerning minds,

A complaint born of resolve brings blood low before mere effigies.

and a complaint of resolve makes blood bow before blood.

لقد نُصِر الإِسلامُ منكَ بناصرٍ

لقد نُصِر الإِسلامُ منكَ بناصرٍ

يرى مغْنماً في الدِّين ما كان مَغْرَما

يرى مغْنماً في الدِّين ما كان مَغْرَما

Islam has indeed found victory through you in a champion

Indeed, Islam has found in you a champion

Who sees as gain in religion what others counted loss.

who sees as gain in faith what had been a cost.

يذُبُّ عن البيتِ المحرِّم جُنْدُه

يذُبُّ عن البيتِ المحرِّم جُنْدُه

فلولاهُمُ ما كان بيتاً مُحرَّما

فلولاهُمُ ما كان بيتاً مُحرَّما

His army defends the Sacred House;

His troops defend the Sacred House,

Without them, it would not remain a sacred house,

for without them it would not be a sacred house.

ولولاهُمُ ما كانَ زمزمُ زمزماً

ولولاهُمُ ما كانَ زمزمُ زمزماً

ولولاهُمُ كان الحطيم مُحَطَّما

ولولاهُمُ كان الحطيم مُحَطَّما

Nor would Zamzam remain truly Zamzam,

Without them, Zamzam would not be Zamzam,

Nor would al-Ḥaṭīm remain unshattered.

and without them the Hatim would lie shattered.

وأُقْسِم ما صَلَّى الحديدُ ترنُّما

وأُقْسِم ما صَلَّى الحديدُ ترنُّما

ولكنَّه صلَّى عليه وسَلَّما

ولكنَّه صلَّى عليه وسَلَّما

I swear, iron never rang out melodiously in prayer;

I swear, the steel did not pray in song,

Rather, it invoked blessings and peace upon him.

but invoked blessings upon him and wished him peace.

وأَثْنَى عليه كلُّ شيءٍ محبةٍ

وأَثْنَى عليه كلُّ شيءٍ محبةٍ

وعادَ فصيحاً فيه ما كان أَعْجما

وعادَ فصيحاً فيه ما كان أَعْجما

Every thing praised him out of love,

Everything praised him out of love,

And what had been speechless became eloquent about him.

and what was mute grew eloquent concerning him.

ففي مدحه صار النَّسيبُ مؤخَّراً

ففي مدحه صار النَّسيبُ مؤخَّراً

ومن أَجْله عاد المديحُ مقدَّما

ومن أَجْله عاد المديحُ مقدَّما

In praising him, the love-prelude came to be delayed,

In praise of him, the love prelude came last,

And for his sake panegyric came first.

and for his sake the panegyric came first.

رأَى ما دِحُوه المدح أَوْلَى فأَقْبلوا

رأَى ما دِحُوه المدح أَوْلَى فأَقْبلوا

عليه وخَلَّوا ذكر سُعدى وَكُلْثُما

عليه وخَلَّوا ذكر سُعدى وَكُلْثُما

His praisers deemed praise of him the worthier theme and turned

His praisers judged praise more fitting, so they turned

To him, abandoning mention of Suʿdā and Kulaythima.

to it, leaving aside mention of Su'da and Kulthum.

ولو أَنصفَ الصبُّ المتيّمُ نفسَه

ولو أَنصفَ الصبُّ المتيّمُ نفسَه

لما عَشِقَ الأَلْمَى ولا قبَّل اللَّما

لما عَشِقَ الأَلْمَى ولا قبَّل اللَّما

Had the enamored lover dealt fairly with himself,

If the lovesick, enthralled one were fair to himself,

He would not adore the dark-lipped beauty or kiss dark lips.

he would not love the dark-lipped one, nor kiss those dusky lips.

ولولا اعتقادٌ للنفوسِ محبَّبٌ

ولولا اعتقادٌ للنفوسِ محبَّبٌ

لكان الكَرى كالسُّهدِ والرِّيُّ كالظَّما

لكان الكَرى كالسُّهدِ والرِّيُّ كالظَّما

Were it not for a conviction cherished by the soul,

Were it not for a belief cherished by souls,

Sleep would be like wakefulness, and quenching like thirst.

sleep would be like sleeplessness, and slaked thirst like thirst.

له مُنْصُلٌ لا يَنْقَضي فرضَ حَجَّةٍ

له مُنْصُلٌ لا يَنْقَضي فرضَ حَجَّةٍ

فبالضرب لبَّى وهو بالسَّلِّ أَحرما

فبالضرب لبَّى وهو بالسَّلِّ أَحرما

He has a blade whose argument’s binding force none can overturn:

He has a sword whose obligatory pilgrimage never ends;

With blows it chants the pilgrim’s call; when drawn, it enters consecration.

with blows it cries 'Here I am,' and when drawn enters consecration.

تنسَّك بالإِسلام لكن رأَيتُه

تنسَّك بالإِسلام لكن رأَيتُه

يَحِلُّ به بالشَّرعِ أَنْ يشْرَبَ الدِّما

يَحِلُّ به بالشَّرعِ أَنْ يشْرَبَ الدِّما

It worships devoutly through Islam, yet I have seen it

It practices devotion in Islam, yet I have seen it

Deem it lawful under sacred law to drink blood.

lawfully permitted, through that faith, to drink blood.

فكم سَلَّ لمَّا سُلَّ من بطْنِ غِمدِه

فكم سَلَّ لمَّا سُلَّ من بطْنِ غِمدِه

لسانَ دَم من ضَرْبَةٍ خَلَقَتْ فَمَا

لسانَ دَم من ضَرْبَةٍ خَلَقَتْ فَمَا

How often, when drawn from the belly of its sheath, it drew forth

How often, when drawn from its scabbard's belly, it has drawn forth

A tongue of blood from a stroke that fashioned a mouth!

a tongue of blood from a blow that created a mouth!

إِذا ما صلاحُ الدينِ سَار بجَيْشِه

إِذا ما صلاحُ الدينِ سَار بجَيْشِه

فليس الحِمَى إِنْ أَمَّه الجيشُ بالحِمَى

فليس الحِمَى إِنْ أَمَّه الجيشُ بالحِمَى

When Salah al-Din marches with his army,

When Salah al-Din marches with his army,

There is no sanctuary save what lies before him; the army is within the sanctuary.

no sanctuary remains a sanctuary if the army makes for it.

تكاثَفَ فيه النَّقعُ واسْتُلَّت الظُّبى

تكاثَفَ فيه النَّقعُ واسْتُلَّت الظُّبى

بآفاقِه حتَّى أَضَاءَ وأَظْلَما

بآفاقِه حتَّى أَضَاءَ وأَظْلَما

Battle-dust thickens around him, and the sword-blades are drawn

Dust thickens within it, and blades are drawn

Across his horizons, until he brings forth both brightness and darkness.

across its horizons, till it shines and darkens.

طليعتُه الوحشُ الضَّواري مُشيحةً

طليعتُه الوحشُ الضَّواري مُشيحةً

وساقَتُه الطَّيرُ الجوانحُ حُوَّما

وساقَتُه الطَّيرُ الجوانحُ حُوَّما

His vanguard is ravening beasts charging forward;

Its vanguard is ravenous wild beasts, rushing forward,

His rearguard is winged birds circling overhead.

and its rearguard is winging birds, circling.

يَقُولُ الذِي يَلْقَاه كَمْ فيه فَارساً

يَقُولُ الذِي يَلْقَاه كَمْ فيه فَارساً

فَيُخْبِرُه المهزُوم كَمْ فيه ضَيْغَما

فَيُخْبِرُه المهزُوم كَمْ فيه ضَيْغَما

Whoever meets it asks, “How many horsemen are in it?”

Whoever meets it asks, 'How many horsemen are in it?'

The defeated man tells him how many lions it contains.

The vanquished tells him how many lions it contains.

وكمْ فيه مَنْ يَلْقَى الكميَّ مقنعاً

وكمْ فيه مَنْ يَلْقَى الكميَّ مقنعاً

بفرْحَةِ من يَلْقى الحبيبَ مُعَمَّمَا

بفرْحَةِ من يَلْقى الحبيبَ مُعَمَّمَا

How many within it meet the armored champion, themselves helmeted,

How many in it meet a helmeted warrior

With the joy of one meeting his beloved, turbaned!

with the joy of one meeting a turbaned beloved!

وكم فيه من يَرْمِي ببعضِ سِهَامِه

وكم فيه من يَرْمِي ببعضِ سِهَامِه

فَيتْرُك دِرْع القِرْن بَرْداً مسَّهما

فَيتْرُك دِرْع القِرْن بَرْداً مسَّهما

How many within it loose some of their arrows,

How many a man in it shoots some of his arrows,

Leaving their rival’s armor a mantle striped with shafts!

leaving his opponent's mail an arrow-patterned cloak!

فيا قائِمَ الإِسلامِ حقّاً لقد غَدا

فيا قائِمَ الإِسلامِ حقّاً لقد غَدا

بك الدِّين دِيناً مثلَ ما قيلَ قيِّما

بك الدِّين دِيناً مثلَ ما قيلَ قيِّما

O true pillar of Islam, through you it has truly become—

O true upholder of Islam, indeed,

A religion, as it was said: upright and steadfast.

through you the faith has become an upright faith, as it was called.

أَعدت إِلى مصرٍ سياسةَ يوسُفٍ

أَعدت إِلى مصرٍ سياسةَ يوسُفٍ

وجدَّدت فيها من سَمِيِّكَ مَوْسِمَا

وجدَّدت فيها من سَمِيِّكَ مَوْسِمَا

You restored to Egypt the governance of Joseph,

You have restored Yusuf's governance to Egypt,

And renewed there an age bearing your namesake’s name.

and renewed there a season of your namesake.

فلم تُرَ إِلاَّ بهجةُ العدل منكما

فلم تُرَ إِلاَّ بهجةُ العدل منكما

ولم تُرَ إِلا سُنَّةُ العدلِ عنكما

ولم تُرَ إِلا سُنَّةُ العدلِ عنكما

It saw from you both nothing but the splendor of justice,

From you both, nothing is seen but the splendor of justice,

And nothing but the tradition of justice transmitted from you both.

and from you both, nothing is seen but the tradition of justice.

كما أَنت فيها عادلٌ كان عادلاً

كما أَنت فيها عادلٌ كان عادلاً

كما أَنْتَ فيها مُنْعِمٌ كان مُنْعِمَا

كما أَنْتَ فيها مُنْعِمٌ كان مُنْعِمَا

As you are just within it, so was he just;

As you are just there, he was just;

As you are beneficent within it, so was he beneficent.

as you are generous there, he was generous.

وأَحييتَ فيها الدِّينَ بعد مَماتِه

وأَحييتَ فيها الدِّينَ بعد مَماتِه

فأَنْتَ ابْنُ يعقوبٍ وأَنت ابنُ مَرْيَما

فأَنْتَ ابْنُ يعقوبٍ وأَنت ابنُ مَرْيَما

You revived religion there after its death:

You have revived the faith there after its death,

Thus you are a son of Jacob and a son of Mary.

so you are the son of Ya'qub, and you are the son of Maryam.

بقيتَ إِلى أَنْ تملكَ الأَرضَ كلَّها

بقيتَ إِلى أَنْ تملكَ الأَرضَ كلَّها

ودُمْتَ إِلى أَنْ يرجعَ الكفرُ مُسْلِما

ودُمْتَ إِلى أَنْ يرجعَ الكفرُ مُسْلِما

May you remain until you rule the whole earth,

May you live until you possess the whole earth,

And endure until unbelief returns as a Muslim, submitting.

and endure until unbelief itself turns Muslim.

وقرَّتِ بسيف الدِّين عينُك إِنَّه

وقرَّتِ بسيف الدِّين عينُك إِنَّه

حُسَامٌ به تُزرِي الحُسامَ المُصَمْصَما

حُسَامٌ به تُزرِي الحُسامَ المُصَمْصَما

May Sayf al-Din gladden your eye: indeed, he

May your eye find joy in Sayf al-Din, for he

Is a sword beside whom the keenest sword seems blunt—

is a sword with which you put the keenest blade to shame.

شبيهُك عدلاً أَو شريكُك نسبةً

شبيهُك عدلاً أَو شريكُك نسبةً

فيا طيبَ أَصلٍ فيكما قد تقسَّما

فيا طيبَ أَصلٍ فيكما قد تقسَّما

Your peer in justice and your partner in lineage;

Your likeness in justice, or your partner in lineage—

How excellent is the noble stock shared between you both!

what a noble root has been shared between you two!

وكَمْ قائلٍ من يملكُ الدَّهرَ قادراً

وكَمْ قائلٍ من يملكُ الدَّهرَ قادراً

عليه فقلْتُ المالكانِ له هُمَا

عليه فقلْتُ المالكانِ له هُمَا

How many ask, “Who can rule the course of time with power?”

Many a speaker asks, 'Who masters time, holding power

Concerning it I answer: those two are its sovereigns.

over it?' I said, 'Its two masters are those two.'