أَنَا مَنْ أَسْلَفْتُ خَيْراً وَتَوَانَى

أَنَا مَنْ أَسْلَفْتُ خَيْراً وَتَوَانَى

زِد جَمِيلاً وَاقْبَلِ العُذْرَ امْتِنَانَا

زِد جَمِيلاً وَاقْبَلِ العُذْرَ امْتِنَانَا

I am one who offered kindness before, yet tarried.

I am the one who did good but was made to wait

Add another kindness, and graciously accept my excuse.

Do more good and accept my excuse as a favor

عَلِمَ اللهُ ضَمِيرِي لَمْ يَزَلْ

عَلِمَ اللهُ ضَمِيرِي لَمْ يَزَلْ

وَافِياً لَكِنَّ سُوءَ الحَظِّ خَانَا

وَافِياً لَكِنَّ سُوءَ الحَظِّ خَانَا

God knows my conscience has always remained

God knows my conscience has always been

Faithful, but ill fortune proved treacherous.

Faithful, though ill fate betrayed me

أَخْلَفَتْ تَهْنِئَتِي مِيقَاتَهَا

أَخْلَفَتْ تَهْنِئَتِي مِيقَاتَهَا

وَالَّتِي أَسْدَيْتَ لَمْ تُخْلِفْ أَوَانَا

وَالَّتِي أَسْدَيْتَ لَمْ تُخْلِفْ أَوَانَا

My congratulatory greeting missed its appointed time,

My congratulations missed their appointed time

While the one you offered did not miss its season.

While yours, not once did fail or late

فَلَئِنْ تَسْبِقْ فَمَا أَضَعَفَنِي

فَلَئِنْ تَسْبِقْ فَمَا أَضَعَفَنِي

عَنْ مُجَارَاتِكَ عَقْلاً وَجَنَانَا

عَنْ مُجَارَاتِكَ عَقْلاً وَجَنَانَا

So if you outstrip me, how weak I am

So if you excel me, it's no failing in me

At matching you in mind and heart!

In wit or passion that I can't match your rate

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ سَماحاً وَنَدىً

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ سَماحاً وَنَدىً

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ بَدِيعاً وَبَيَانَا

مَنْ يُبَارِيكَ بَدِيعاً وَبَيَانَا

Who can rival you in generosity and bounty?

Who can compare to your generosity and charm?

Who can rival you in verbal artistry and eloquence?

Who can compare to your eloquence and diction?

مِدْحَةُ السَّيِّدِ لِي فِي حِينِهَا

مِدْحَةُ السَّيِّدِ لِي فِي حِينِهَا

رَفَعَتْنِي بَيْنَ أَقْرَانِي مَكَانَا

رَفَعَتْنِي بَيْنَ أَقْرَانِي مَكَانَا

The master's praise of me, given at its proper time,

My lord praising me raised me high

Raised my standing among my peers.

Among my peers to an exalted position

وَمَدِيحِي فِيهِ لَوْ جَادَ لَمَا

وَمَدِيحِي فِيهِ لَوْ جَادَ لَمَا

زَادَهُ عَنْ كَوْنِهِ أَرْفَعُ شَانَا

زَادَهُ عَنْ كَوْنِهِ أَرْفَعُ شَانَا

And my praise of him, were it excellent, would not

And my praise of him, had I been more lavish

Raise him beyond his already exalted standing.

Would not have raised him higher in his station

سَيِّدِي أَكْرَمُ مَنْ أَسْدَى يَداً

سَيِّدِي أَكْرَمُ مَنْ أَسْدَى يَداً

أَنْعَشَتْ لِلشُّكْرِ قَلْباً وَلِسَانَا

أَنْعَشَتْ لِلشُّكْرِ قَلْباً وَلِسَانَا

My master is the most generous of those who extended a hand

My lord, most generous is he who lends a hand

That revived a heart and tongue to give thanks.

Reviving heart and tongue in appreciation

نِعْمَةُ المَولى عَلَيْهِ أَوْسَعَتْ

نِعْمَةُ المَولى عَلَيْهِ أَوْسَعَتْ

نُخَبَ الأَمةِ غُنْماً وضَمَانَا

نُخَبَ الأَمةِ غُنْماً وضَمَانَا

The Lord's blessing upon him has enriched

The blessings of God on him are most ample

The nation's elite with bounty and security.

Choicest of the nation in spoils and preservation

وَتَمَامُ السَّعْدِ فِيهَا أَنَّ مَا

وَتَمَامُ السَّعْدِ فِيهَا أَنَّ مَا

أَوْجَبَ الفَضْلُ وَشَاءَ العَدْلُ كَانَا

أَوْجَبَ الفَضْلُ وَشَاءَ العَدْلُ كَانَا

And its good fortune is complete in that what

And the height of fortune that what is right

Merit required and justice willed came to pass.

By merit and justice should come to fruition