إذَا المَرْءُ لَمْ يُنْصِفْ بِقَدْرِ جِهَادِهِ

إذَا المَرْءُ لَمْ يُنْصِفْ بِقَدْرِ جِهَادِهِ

فَإِنَّ لَهُ فَضْلاً بِقَدْرِ اجْتِهَادِهِ

فَإِنَّ لَهُ فَضْلاً بِقَدْرِ اجْتِهَادِهِ

If a man is not given his due in proportion to his struggle,

If a man does not reach the level of his endeavor

Then he has merit in proportion to his endeavor.

Then he has surplus merit equal to his striving

تَوَخَّ عَظِيمَاتِ المُنَى وَانْحُ نَحْوَهَا

تَوَخَّ عَظِيمَاتِ المُنَى وَانْحُ نَحْوَهَا

بِرَأْيٍ يُضِيءُ الدَّهْرَ وَرْيُ زِنَادِهِ

بِرَأْيٍ يُضِيءُ الدَّهْرَ وَرْيُ زِنَادِهِ

Seek the greatest aspirations, and head toward them,

Seek the loftiest aspirations though the path be arduous

With a vision whose flint-sparks illuminate the ages.

With intellect illuminating existence and replenishing its provision

وَثَابِرْ تُصِبْ فَوْزاً فَمَا الفَوْزُ لِلْفَتَى

وَثَابِرْ تُصِبْ فَوْزاً فَمَا الفَوْزُ لِلْفَتَى

بِإِسْرَافِهِ فِي الجُهْدِ بَلْ بِاقْتِصَادِهِ

بِإِسْرَافِهِ فِي الجُهْدِ بَلْ بِاقْتِصَادِهِ

And persevere: you will win, for a young man's success lies not

And persevere to attain success for success comes not

In squandering his effort, but in using it wisely.

To one who is excessive in effort but moderate in his capacity

بِنَا حَاجَةُ النَّسْرِ المَهِيضِ جَنَاحُهُ

بِنَا حَاجَةُ النَّسْرِ المَهِيضِ جَنَاحُهُ

إِلَى جَوِّهِ العَالِي وَرَحْبِ مَرَادِهِ

إِلَى جَوِّهِ العَالِي وَرَحْبِ مَرَادِهِ

We have the need of an eagle whose wing is broken

Our aspiration is for the winged ambitions to take flight

For its lofty sky and the wide expanse it seeks.

To the heights and expanse of its purpose

أَيَرْقَى إِلَى أَوْجِ الكَمَالِ مُصَعِّدٌ

أَيَرْقَى إِلَى أَوْجِ الكَمَالِ مُصَعِّدٌ

وَيَعْدُونه دُونَ الأَوْجِ نُقْصَانُ زَادِهِ

وَيَعْدُونه دُونَ الأَوْجِ نُقْصَانُ زَادِهِ

Can one climbing ascend to the pinnacle of perfection,

Can one ascending to the summit of perfection

While his scant provisions hold him short of the peak?

Be impeded on the climb by inadequate supplies?

يُقَالُ الرِّضَى بَعْضُ الغِنَى قُلْتُ كُلُّهُ

يُقَالُ الرِّضَى بَعْضُ الغِنَى قُلْتُ كُلُّهُ

وَلَكِنْ لِجِسْمِ المَرْءِ لا لِفُؤَادِهِ

وَلَكِنْ لِجِسْمِ المَرْءِ لا لِفُؤَادِهِ

They say contentment is part of wealth; I say, all of it—

It is said contentment is a part of wealth; I say it is the whole

But for a man's body, not for his heart.

But for the body of a man, not his heart

نَفَيْنَا مِنَ الأَنْغَامِ مَا لَيْسَ مُفْضِياً

نَفَيْنَا مِنَ الأَنْغَامِ مَا لَيْسَ مُفْضِياً

إِلَى ذُلِّ مَنْ يَهْوَى وَمَنْحِ قِيَادِهِ

إِلَى ذُلِّ مَنْ يَهْوَى وَمَنْحِ قِيَادِهِ

We have banished from melodies whatever does not lead

We eschew melodies that do not lead

To the lover's abasement and his yielding the reins.

To humbling those who are vain and arrogant

جَعَلْنَا جَمِيعَ اللَّحْنِ شَجْواً وَأَنَّهُ

جَعَلْنَا جَمِيعَ اللَّحْنِ شَجْواً وَأَنَّهُ

لِدَلِّ حَبِيبٍ مُعْرِضٍ أَوْ عِنَادِهِ

لِدَلِّ حَبِيبٍ مُعْرِضٍ أَوْ عِنَادِهِ

We have made all melody grief, and it is

We make all song a lament as though

For the coquetry of a beloved who turns away, or his obstinacy.

For an absent beloved or responding to his disdain

وَلا عِيدَ إِلاَّ لِلأَسَى فِي قُلُوبِنَا

وَلا عِيدَ إِلاَّ لِلأَسَى فِي قُلُوبِنَا

أَمَا مَلَّهُ قَلْبٌ لِفَرْطِ اعْتِيَادِهِ

أَمَا مَلَّهُ قَلْبٌ لِفَرْطِ اعْتِيَادِهِ

There is no celebration in our hearts except for sorrow;

We have no celebration apart from sorrow in our hearts

Has no heart tired of it through excessive familiarity?

Has constant joy not wearied the heart accustomed to it?

سُكَارَى يَكَادُ الصَّوْتُ يُوقِرُ هَامَنَا

سُكَارَى يَكَادُ الصَّوْتُ يُوقِرُ هَامَنَا

إذَا مَا عَلا رُتْبَةٍ فِي انْطِيادِهِ

إذَا مَا عَلا رُتْبَةٍ فِي انْطِيادِهِ

We are drunk; the voice almost weighs down our heads

Intoxicated, our pride nearly topples

Whenever it climbs a degree in its ascent.

When voices rise beyond their proper level

ألا طَرَبٌ يَا قُوْمُ فِي جَأْرِ مُغْضَبٍ

ألا طَرَبٌ يَا قُوْمُ فِي جَأْرِ مُغْضَبٍ

لأُمَّتِهِ أَوْ عِرْضِهِ أَوْ وِدَادِهِ

لأُمَّتِهِ أَوْ عِرْضِهِ أَوْ وِدَادِهِ

Is there no rapture, O people, in the roar of one angered

Arouse, O people, the angry roar

For his nation, or his honor, or his love?

Of one enraged for his nation, honor, or affection

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالجَيْشُ يَحْدُوهُ مِعْزَفٌ

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالجَيْشُ يَحْدُوهُ مِعْزَفٌ

شَدِيدُ الوَغَى يُورِي اللَّظَى فِي جَمَادِهِ

شَدِيدُ الوَغَى يُورِي اللَّظَى فِي جَمَادِهِ

Is there no rapture when an instrument spurs the army onward,

Arouse, as the army advances rhythmically

Fierce with battle's din, kindling flame in its lifeless matter?

Furiously engaged, revealing ferocity in its solidity

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالبَحْرُ فِي ثَوَرَانِهِ

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالبَحْرُ فِي ثَوَرَانِهِ

يُصَوِّرُ إِيقَاعٌ جَلالَ امْتِدَادِهِ

يُصَوِّرُ إِيقَاعٌ جَلالَ امْتِدَادِهِ

Is there no rapture when, amid the sea's tumult,

Arouse, as the tumultuous ocean

A rhythm portrays the grandeur of its expanse?

Depicts the majesty of its endless undulation

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالنَّهْرُ تَهْوِي سُيُولُهُ

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالنَّهْرُ تَهْوِي سُيُولُهُ

إِلَى قَاعِهِ مُصْطَكَّةً بِصِلادِهِ

إِلَى قَاعِهِ مُصْطَكَّةً بِصِلادِهِ

Is there no rapture as the river's torrents plunge

Arouse, as the floods plunge

To its bed, clashing against its hard rocks?

Turbulently into the depths churned by its coursing

ألا طَرَبٌ فِي مَا يُرَدِّدُ حَانِقٌ

ألا طَرَبٌ فِي مَا يُرَدِّدُ حَانِقٌ

مِنَ الأُسْدِ فِي أَطْوَادِهِ أَوْ مِهَادِهِ

مِنَ الأُسْدِ فِي أَطْوَادِهِ أَوْ مِهَادِهِ

Is there no rapture in the repeated cries of an enraged one

Arouse, as the impassioned lion repeats

Among the lions, in its mountains or its resting place?

Its roar from its lair or resting place

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالقَفْرُ كَالقَبْرُ سَاكِنٌ

ألا طَرَبٌ وَالقَفْرُ كَالقَبْرُ سَاكِنٌ

لِنَاءٍ شَجَتْهُ حَمْحَمَاتُ جَوَادِهِ

لِنَاءٍ شَجَتْهُ حَمْحَمَاتُ جَوَادِهِ

Is there no rapture, while the wilderness is still as a grave,

Arouse, as the empty desert still as a grave

For one far away, saddened by his steed's soft neighs?

For the wailing of a storm lashed by its mounts

أَلا يَوْمَ مَشْهُودٌ أَلا فَوْزَ حَافِلٌ

أَلا يَوْمَ مَشْهُودٌ أَلا فَوْزَ حَافِلٌ

أَلا رَهْطَ يَعْلُو صَوْتُهُ بِاتِّحَادِهِ

أَلا رَهْطَ يَعْلُو صَوْتُهُ بِاتِّحَادِهِ

Is there no memorable day, no splendid triumph?

Arouse, O witnessed day! Arouse, O packed conquest!

No band whose voice rises through its unity?

Arouse, O throng exalted by its unity!

أَمَا لِلفَتَى قُوْلٌ كَبِيرٌ لِنِدِّهِ

أَمَا لِلفَتَى قُوْلٌ كَبِيرٌ لِنِدِّهِ

وَلا صَيْحَةٌ فِي فَخْرِهِ وَاعْتِدَادِهِ

وَلا صَيْحَةٌ فِي فَخْرِهِ وَاعْتِدَادِهِ

Has a young man no mighty utterance for his rival,

Does not the young man have a grand refusal of his rival

And no cry of pride and self-assurance?

And a cry without boast or arrogance?

أَلا رَعْدَ هَدَّادٌ أَلا بَرْقَ خَاطِفٌ

أَلا رَعْدَ هَدَّادٌ أَلا بَرْقَ خَاطِفٌ

أَلا عَارِضٌ تَجْرِي الرُّبَى فِي اشْتِدَادِهِ

أَلا عَارِضٌ تَجْرِي الرُّبَى فِي اشْتِدَادِهِ

Is there no shattering thunder, no flashing lightning?

Arouse, O rumbling thunder! Arouse, O flashing lightning!

No rain-cloud, in whose mounting fury the hills run with water?

Arouse, O competing showers in their intensifying downpour!

أَلا نَغَمٌ إِلاَّ إذَا حَيَّتْ الصَّبَا

أَلا نَغَمٌ إِلاَّ إذَا حَيَّتْ الصَّبَا

غَرِيبَ حِمىً طَالَتْ لَيَالِي بِعَادِهِ

غَرِيبَ حِمىً طَالَتْ لَيَالِي بِعَادِهِ

Is there no melody except when the east wind greets

No melody unless the morning breeze arouses

An exile from his homeland, whose nights away have grown long?

Strange, protected places long absent from their settlements

نَصُوغُ أَقَلَّ اللَّحْنِ دُونَ أَجَلِّهِ

نَصُوغُ أَقَلَّ اللَّحْنِ دُونَ أَجَلِّهِ

وَنَهْوَى انْتِقَاضَ الفَنِّ دُونَ ازْدِيَادِهِ

وَنَهْوَى انْتِقَاضَ الفَنِّ دُونَ ازْدِيَادِهِ

We fashion the meanest melody rather than its noblest,

We compose the simplest tunes below their greatest art

And love art's decay rather than its growth.

And desire the revival of music without its increase

وَلا وَصْفَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُمَثِّلَ حَالَةً

وَلا وَصْفَ إِلاَّ أَنْ يُمَثِّلَ حَالَةً

مِنَ النَّفْسِ لَمْ تَبْلُغْ بَدِيهَةَ بَادِهِ

مِنَ النَّفْسِ لَمْ تَبْلُغْ بَدِيهَةَ بَادِهِ

And there is no description except one depicting a state

No description unless it depicts a condition

Of the soul that has not reached an improviser's first intuition.

Of the soul unreached by the obviousness of its expanse

لَهَا لَمَعَانُ النَّصْلِ بَيْنَ اسْتِلالِهِ

لَهَا لَمَعَانُ النَّصْلِ بَيْنَ اسْتِلالِهِ

إِلَى وَشْكِ أَنْ يَعْرَى وَبَيْنَ اغْتِمَادِهِ

إِلَى وَشْكِ أَنْ يَعْرَى وَبَيْنَ اغْتِمَادِهِ

It has a blade's flash, between its being drawn

It has the gleam of a blade between drawn and sheathed

Almost bare and its being sheathed.

At the point of baring itself and dependence

نُحِبُّ مِنَ الإِنْشَادِ كُلَّ مُكَرَّرٍ

نُحِبُّ مِنَ الإِنْشَادِ كُلَّ مُكَرَّرٍ

بِلَحْنٍ جُمُودُ الفِكْرِ مِنْ مُسْتَفَادِهِ

بِلَحْنٍ جُمُودُ الفِكْرِ مِنْ مُسْتَفَادِهِ

In chanting, we love every repeated piece

We love all repetition in chanting

Set to a melody whose yield includes stagnation of thought.

Whose static thought is gained from its derivation

وَتَنْبُو بِنَا الآذَانُ عَنْ مُسْتَجَدِّهِ

وَتَنْبُو بِنَا الآذَانُ عَنْ مُسْتَجَدِّهِ

فَكُلُّ عَتِيقٍ فَهْوَ مِنْ مُسْتَجَادِهِ

فَكُلُّ عَتِيقٍ فَهْوَ مِنْ مُسْتَجَادِهِ

And our ears recoil from whatever is new in it,

And ears recoil from any unprecedented thing

For every old piece is counted among its finest.

So everything longstanding is highly regarded

وَمَهْمَا يُعَدْ فِي صَيْغَةٍ بَعْدَ صِيغَةٍ

وَمَهْمَا يُعَدْ فِي صَيْغَةٍ بَعْدَ صِيغَةٍ

مُقَارِبَةٍ لَمْ نَشْكُ مِنْ مُسْتَعَادِهِ

مُقَارِبَةٍ لَمْ نَشْكُ مِنْ مُسْتَعَادِهِ

And however often it is repeated in one form after another,

However much is counted in a further idiom

Much alike, we never complain of its repetition.

Resemblance we have not doubted for its restoration

بِنَا حَاجَةُ النَّسْرِ المَهِيضِ جَنَاحُهُ

بِنَا حَاجَةُ النَّسْرِ المَهِيضِ جَنَاحُهُ

إِلَى جَوِّهِ العَالِي وَرَحْبِ مَرَادِهِ

إِلَى جَوِّهِ العَالِي وَرَحْبِ مَرَادِهِ

We have the need of an eagle whose wing is broken

Our aspiration is for the winged ambitions to take flight

For its lofty sky and the wide expanse it seeks.

To the heights and expanse of its purpose

أَيَرْقَى إِلَى أَوْجِ الكَمَالِ مُصَعِّدٌ

أَيَرْقَى إِلَى أَوْجِ الكَمَالِ مُصَعِّدٌ

وَيعْدُوهُ دُونَ الأَوْجِ نُقْصَانُ زَادِهِ

وَيعْدُوهُ دُونَ الأَوْجِ نُقْصَانُ زَادِهِ

Can one climbing ascend to the pinnacle of perfection,

Can one ascending to the summit of perfection

While his scant provisions hold him short of the peak?

Be impeded on the climb by inadequate supplies?

بَنِي وَطَنِي إِنْ نَلْتَمِسْ لِرُقِيِّنَا

بَنِي وَطَنِي إِنْ نَلْتَمِسْ لِرُقِيِّنَا

عَتَاداً فَهَذَا الفَنُّ بَعْضُ عَتَادِهِ

عَتَاداً فَهَذَا الفَنُّ بَعْضُ عَتَادِهِ

Sons of my homeland, if we seek for our advancement

My countrymen, if we seek progress

Resources, then this art is part of the resources it needs.

When we firmly set it above our concerns

إِذَا نَحْنُ أَحْكَمْنَاهُ أَعْلَى هُمُومَنَا

إِذَا نَحْنُ أَحْكَمْنَاهُ أَعْلَى هُمُومَنَا

وَأَنْجَى سَوَاداً هَالِكاً وَالمُنَى وَالمَشَادِهِ

وَأَنْجَى سَوَاداً هَالِكاً وَالمُنَى وَالمَشَادِهِ

If we perfect it, it will ennoble our concerns

And the darkness of ruin, death, and contention

And save a perishing multitude, and hopes, and [unclear word].

When will our army come to meet devastation

مَتَى يَغْدُ مِنَّا الجَيْشُ يَسْتَقْبِلُ الرَّدَى

مَتَى يَغْدُ مِنَّا الجَيْشُ يَسْتَقْبِلُ الرَّدَى

وَيَسْمَعُ مَسْرُوراً نَشِيدَ بِلادِهِ

وَيَسْمَعُ مَسْرُوراً نَشِيدَ بِلادِهِ

When will our army go forth to face death,

And hear gladly the anthem of its nation?

And hear, rejoicing, the anthem of its homeland?