ياO أَيُّهاyou (vocative) البلدthe land الكَئيبُthe sorrowful
يا أَيُّها البلد الكَئيبُ
حياكَmay it greet you مُنهمرstreaming سَكوبُpouring copiously
حياكَ مُنهمر سَكوبُ
O you sorrowful land,
O my sorrowful country
may a pouring torrent greet you!
I greet your pouring misfortune
لاdo not تَبتئسgrieve بِالظُلمat injustice إنindeed (continued)
لا تَبتئس بِالظُلم إن
نcompletion of 'indeed' غَداًtomorrow لَناظرهِto one awaiting it قَريبnear
ن غَداً لَناظرهِ قَريب
Do not grieve at injustice, for
Do not despair of injustice, for
tomorrow is near to one who awaits it.
Tomorrow its beholder is near
وَغدٌand a tomorrow عَصيبٌdire لاnot يَسرgladden (continued)
وَغدٌ عَصيبٌ لا يَسر
رcompletion of 'gladden' الظالمينthe oppressors غدٌa tomorrow عَصيبdire
ر الظالمين غدٌ عَصيب
And a dire tomorrow, bringing no joy
And tomorrow is a difficult day that does not please
to the oppressors—a dire tomorrow.
The oppressors, tomorrow is a difficult day
أَشرقshine بوجهكwith your face ضاحِكاًlaughing
أَشرق بوجهك ضاحِكاً
وَلشمسand for the sun of شانئكyour hater الغُروبsunset
وَلشمس شانئك الغُروب
Shine with a laughing face,
Beam with your laughing face
and your hater's sun shall set.
And your enemy the sunset
ماnothing بَعدafter غَمّكyour grief غَيرbut يوday (continued)
ما بَعد غَمّك غَير يو
مcompletion of 'day' تطمئنfind peace بِهِin it القُلوبthe hearts
م تطمئن بِهِ القُلوب
Nothing follows your grief but a day
After your sorrow nothing but a day
in which hearts find peace.
That reassures hearts
لَهفيmy anguish عَلىfor البَلَدthe land الكئيthe sorrowful (continued)
لَهفي عَلى البَلَد الكئي
بcompletion of 'the sorrowful' تَعطَلتfell idle أَسواقُهُits markets
ب تَعطَلت أَسواقُهُ
Alas for the sorrowful land—
My anxiety for the sorrowful country
its markets have fallen idle.
Whose markets have stopped
عارٍnaked كَماas أَعرورىgrew bare الخريautumn (continued)
عارٍ كَما أَعرورى الخري
فcompletion of 'autumn' تَساقَطَتfell away أَوراقهits leaves
ف تَساقَطَت أَوراقه
Naked, as autumn has grown bare,
Disgraced as the palm frond whose
its leaves have fallen away.
Leaves have fallen
خَفقتthrobbed جَوانحهits breast أَسىًsorrow
خَفقت جَوانحه أَسىً
وَتَقرّحتand grew ulcerated آماقهits eye-corners
وَتَقرّحت آماقه
Its breast throbbed with sorrow,
Flapping its wings in sorrow
and the corners of its eyes grew raw.
And its burrows ulcerated
صَبراًpatience! فَإِنfor indeed الصَبرpatience قَدmay
صَبراً فَإِن الصَبر قَد
يَحلوbe sweet بِفيكin your mouth مَذاقهits taste
يَحلو بِفيك مَذاقه
Be patient, for patience may
Have patience, for patience
have a sweet taste in your mouth.
May be sweetly tasted
هَذاthis عَدوّكyour enemy لاdo not let يَرعfrighten
هَذا عَدوّك لا يَرع
كyou وَهَذِهِand these أَخلاقُهُhis ways
ك وَهَذِهِ أَخلاقُهُ
This is your enemy; let him not frighten
This is your enemy who does not
you—these are his ways.
Spare you, these are his morals
بلفورBalfour كَأسكyour cup مِنof دَمblood of الشthe (beginning of 'the martyrs')
بلفور كَأسك مِن دَم الش
شهداءmartyrs لاnot ماءjuice العنَبthe grapes
شهداء لا ماء العنَب
Balfour, your cup holds the blood of the
Make your cup from the blood of martyrs, not grape wine
martyrs, not the juice of grapes.
Do not let it deceive you that it
لاdo not يَخدعنّكdeceive you (emphatic) أَنهاthat it
لا يَخدعنّك أَنها
راقتbecame clear وَكللهاand crowned it الحببthe bubbles
راقت وَكللها الحبب
Do not be deceived because it
Was delicate and dotted with seeds
is clear and crowned with bubbles.
For its seeds are souls that
فَحبابهاfor its bubbles الأَرواحthe souls قَدhave
فَحبابها الأَرواح قَد
وَثبتleapt إِلَيكtoward you كَماas وَثَبleapt
وَثبت إِلَيك كَما وَثَب
For its bubbles are souls that have
Have risen and leapt to you
leapt toward you as one leaps.
So look at your face, it
فَاِنظُرthen look لِوَجهكat your face إِنَّهُindeed it
فَاِنظُر لِوَجهك إِنَّهُ
فيin الكَأسthe cup لوّحهscorched it الغضبanger
في الكَأس لوّحه الغضب
Then look at your face: it
Waved angrily in the cup
is scorched by anger there in the cup.
And look, blinded, for it
وَاِنظُرand look عمِيتmay you go blind! فَإِنَّهُfor indeed it
وَاِنظُر عمِيت فَإِنَّهُ
مِنfrom صَرخةthe cry of الحَقjustice التهبcaught fire
مِن صَرخة الحَق التهب
And look—may you go blind!—for it
Came from the scream of ignited truth
has caught fire from the cry of justice.
Balfour, your day in the sky is
بلفورBalfour يَومكyour day فيin السَماheaven (continued)
بلفور يَومك في السَما
ءcompletion of 'heaven' عَلَيكupon you صاعِقَةthe thunderbolt of السَماءheaven
ء عَلَيك صاعِقَة السَماء
Balfour, your day is in heaven;
Like lightning striking from the sky
upon you be heaven's thunderbolt!
You are but the wolf that
ماnothing أَنَتyou إِلاbut الذئبthe wolf قَدindeed
ما أَنَت إِلا الذئب قَد
صَوّرتyou were fashioned مِنfrom طينthe clay of الشَقاءwretchedness
صَوّرت مِن طين الشَقاء
You are nothing but a wolf, indeed
Was shaped from the clay of misery
fashioned from the clay of wretchedness.
And the wolf is a beast that always
وَالذئبand the wolf وَحشٌa wild beast لَمhas not يَزَلceased
وَالذئب وَحشٌ لَم يَزَل
يَضرىgrows savage بِرائحةat the scent of الدِماءblood
يَضرى بِرائحة الدِماء
And the wolf is a beast that never ceases
Harms with the smell of blood
to grow savage at the scent of blood.
Be disappointed in your promise, for the
إِخسأbegone! بِوعدكwith your promise إِنindeed وَعpromise (continued)
إِخسأ بِوعدك إِن وَع
دكcompletion of 'your promise' دونهbarring it رَبthe Lord of القَضاءdestiny
دك دونه رَب القَضاء
Begone with your promise! For your promise
Promise is beneath the Lord of Destiny
has the Lord of destiny barring its way.
And to Hell you both are
وَإِلىand to جَهَنَمHell أَنتُماyou both
وَإِلى جَهَنَم أَنتُما
حطبfirewood لَهاfor it طولthroughout البَقاءeternity
حطب لَها طول البَقاء
And to Hell with you both—
Firewood for it for eternity
firewood for it for all time.
Be disappointed in your promise, for the promise will not
إِخسأbegone! بوعدكwith your promise لَنwill not يَضيharm (continued)
إِخسأ بوعدك لَن يَضي
رcompletion of 'harm' الوَعدthe promise شَعباًa people هَبَّrose up ناهضrising
ر الوَعد شَعباً هَبَّ ناهض
Begone with your promise! Never will
Turn away a people that awoke resolute
the promise harm a people risen to their feet.
Do not break the promise that
لاdo not تَنقضrevoke الوَعدthe promise الَّذيthat
لا تَنقض الوَعد الَّذي
أَبرَمتهُyou sealed it فَلَهُfor it has نَواقضundoing forces
أَبرَمتهُ فَلَهُ نَواقض
Do not revoke the promise that
You concluded, for it has invalidators
you sealed; there are forces to undo it.
Woe to the promise of the old man
وَيلwoe لِوَعدto the promise of الشَيخthe old man مِنfrom
وَيل لِوَعد الشَيخ مِن
عَزماتfirm resolves آسادlions روابضcrouching
عَزمات آساد روابض
Woe to the old man's promise at
Of intentions like resting lions
the resolve of crouching lions!
Do I lose you, O my homeland, while
أَتَضيعwill you be lost? ياO وَطَنيmy homeland وَهاand behold
أَتَضيع يا وَطَني وَها
عرقthe vein of العُروبةArabness فيَّwithin me نابضthrobbing
عرق العُروبة فيَّ نابض
Will you be lost, my homeland, while here
The sweat of Arabism in me pulses?
the vein of Arabness throbs within me?
So I will go in ransom for my people
فَلأذهبنthen I shall surely go فِداءَa sacrifice for قَوميmy people
فَلأذهبن فِداءَ قَومي
فيin غِمارthe depths of المَوتdeath خائضplunging
في غِمار المَوت خائض
Then I shall surely go, a sacrifice for my people,
Diving into the whirlpool of death
plunging into the depths of death.
Good tidings my homeland, for
بشراكglad tidings to you ياO وَطَنيmy homeland فَقَدfor already
بشراك يا وَطَني فَقَد
نُفضwas shaken off الرقادslumber عَنfrom البِلادِthe land
نُفض الرقاد عَن البِلادِ
Glad tidings, my homeland! For now
The slumber has been shaken off the countries
slumber has been shaken from the land.
Braves have risen in you, throwing
نَهَضَتrose بَواسلbrave ones فيكin you تقhurl (continued)
نَهَضَت بَواسل فيك تق
ذفcompletion of 'hurl' بِالنُفوسwith the souls إِلىinto الجِهادthe struggle
ذف بِالنُفوس إِلى الجِهاد
The brave have risen in you, hurling
Souls into struggle
their souls into the struggle.
They paved the way to supremacy
شَقواthey cleared الطَريقthe road إِلىto العُلاthe heights
شَقوا الطَريق إِلى العُلا
وَخَطواand they stepped عَلىalong نَهجthe path of السَدادrectitude
وَخَطوا عَلى نَهج السَداد
They cleared the road to the heights,
And walked the path of righteousness
and trod the path of rectitude.
And the tongues of inanimate things will soon speak
وَلَسَوفand surely will تَنطقspeak فيin سَبيcause (continued)
وَلَسَوف تَنطق في سَبي
لcompletion of 'cause' الحَقjustice أَلسِنَةُthe tongues of الجَمادlifeless things
ل الحَق أَلسِنَةُ الجَماد
And surely, in the cause of
In the cause of truth
justice, the tongues of lifeless things will speak.
And woe, my homeland, to those who
وَالوَيلand woe ياO وَطَنيmy homeland لِمَنto whoever
وَالوَيل يا وَطَني لِمَن
أَضحىhas become يصرّinsists عَلىon العِنادobstinacy
أَضحى يصرّ عَلى العِناد
And woe, my homeland, to whoever
Have persisted in stubbornness
persists in stubborn defiance.
Good tidings my homeland, for the young women have risen at the right time
بُشراكglad tidings to you ياO وَطنيmy homeland فَقَدfor already
بُشراك يا وَطني فَقَد
نَهَضَتrose بِكَto uphold you الغيدthe graceful women الأَوانسthe maidens
نَهَضَت بِكَ الغيد الأَوانس
Glad tidings, my homeland! For now
The watchful eyes of your narcissus awoke
graceful maidens have risen to uphold you.
They came from the door of the tent touching
حيّتgreeted جُموعَthe throngs of الغانياthe beautiful women (continued)
حيّت جُموعَ الغانيا
تcompletion of 'the beautiful women' عُيونُthe eyes of نَرجسكyour narcissi النَواعسthe drowsy
ت عُيونُ نَرجسك النَواعس
The throngs of beautiful women were greeted
In black attire
by the drowsy eyes of your narcissi.
And they shouted in the face of the blind man and their right upon him is a guard
أَقبَلنَthey came مِنfrom بابthe gate of الخَليal-Khalil (continued)
أَقبَلنَ مِن باب الخَلي
لcompletion of 'al-Khalil' يمسنthey sway فيin سودblack المَلابسthe garments
ل يمسن في سود المَلابس
They came from Bab al-Khalil,
My homeland, you have won if the women
swaying in black garments.
Cried your name in the councils
وَصَرَخنَand they cried out فيin وَجهthe face of العَميthe chief (continued)
وَصَرَخنَ في وَجه العَمي
دcompletion of 'the chief' وَحقهنand their right لَهُنَfor them حارسa guardian
د وَحقهن لَهُنَ حارس
And they shouted in the chief's face,
My homeland, upon us altogether is the pact
and their right was their guardian.
To walk forward
وَطَنيmy homeland ظَفرتyou triumphed إِذاwhen النِساthe women (continued)
وَطَني ظَفرت إِذا النِسا
ءcompletion of 'the women' هَتفنَthey chanted باسمكwith your name فيin المَجالسthe assemblies
ء هَتفنَ باسمك في المَجالس
My homeland, you triumph when women
And to live as brothers in
chant your name in the assemblies.
Pure affection and harmony
وَطَنيmy homeland عَلَيناupon us العَهدthe pledge جَمtogether (continued)
وَطَني عَلَينا العَهد جَم
عاًcompletion of 'together' أَنto نَسيرwe march إِلىtoward الأَمامthe front
عاً أَن نَسير إِلى الأَمام
My homeland, we are pledged, all
And to defend you from afflictions
together, to march forward,
Racing to the baths
وَنَعيشand we live إِخواناًas brothers عَلىon the basis of
وَنَعيش إِخواناً عَلى
مَحضpure المودّةaffection وَالوِئامand harmony
مَحض المودّة وَالوِئام
and live as brothers in
And to be, in elevating your prestige
pure affection and harmony;
Working constantly
وَنَردَّand we repel عَنكَaway from you النازِلاتcalamities
وَنَردَّ عَنكَ النازِلات
مسابقينracing one another إِلىtoward الحمامdeath
مسابقين إِلى الحمام
and ward calamities away from you,
Until you are seen sheltered
racing one another toward death;
In the shade of dignity and peace
وَنَكونand we shall be فيin إِعلاءraising شَأstanding (continued)
وَنَكون في إِعلاء شَأ
نكcompletion of 'your standing' عاملينworking عَلىfor الدَوامall time
نك عاملين عَلى الدَوام
and be, in raising your standing,
ever at work,
حَتّىuntil تُرىyou are seen مُتفيئاًtaking shade
حَتّى تُرى مُتفيئاً
ظَلَّthe shade of الكَرامةdignity وَالسَلامand peace
ظَلَّ الكَرامة وَالسَلام
until you are seen taking shelter
in the shade of dignity and peace.
Partial English translation: 76 of 80 Arabic lines translated.