1. رُبَّ حَكِيمٍ مُرْسِلٍ لِحْيَةً

    أَوْقرَ مِنْ مُسْتَثْقلِ الضَّيفِ

    Many a sage lets his beard grow,

    More solemn than one who finds a guest burdensome.

  2. لاَ فِي ربِيعِ الخَيْر تُرْجَى وَلاَ

    تَقْشَعُهَا قاشِعَةُ الصَّيفِ

    It is not hoped for in bountiful spring, nor

    Does summer's clearing wind disperse it.

  3. لاَ طُبَّ فِي رَأُسٍ بِهِ اعْلَوْلَقتْ

    كَأَخْذِ ذَاكَ الرَّأُسِ بِالسَّيفِ

    No cure for a head to which it has clung

    Equals severing that head with the sword.

  4. أَكْرِمْ بِهِ مِنْ مُلْتقىً لَمْ يَغْشَهُ

    إِلا كِرَامُ طَبَائِعٍ وَعَنَاصِرِ

    How noble a gathering, which none attended

    But those of noble nature and stock!

  5. بِزَفَافِ عَبْدِ اللّهِ كَمْ مِنْ غَافِرٍ

    لِزَمَانِهِ ذَنْباً وَكمْ مِنْ شَاكِرِ

    At Abd Allah's wedding, how many forgive

    Their age a sin, and how many give thanks!

  6. أُمْنِيةٌ لِلْوَالِدَيْنِ تَحَقَّقتْ

    بَعْدَ الدَّعَاءِ الصادِقِ الْمُتَوَاتِرِ

    A wish of the parents has come true

    After sincere, repeated prayer.

  7. يَرَيَانِ وَالْمَأْثُورُ مَا يَرَيَانِهِ

    إِن السَّعادَة فِي الْقِرَانِ البَاكِرِ

    They both believe—and their belief is time-honored—

    That happiness lies in early marriage.

  8. زَيْنُ الشَّبابِ النابِهِينَ فَتَاهُمَا

    لُطْفاً وَإِيْناساً وَظَرْفَ بَوَادِرِ

    Their son is the ornament of distinguished youth,

    In graciousness, friendliness, and spontaneous wit,

  9. وَتَأَلُّقاً فِي الْوَجِهِ تَمَّاماً بِمَا

    تُخْفِي الطَّوِيةُ مِنْ نَقِيَّ سَرَائِرِ

    And radiance in his face, made complete by the

    Pure thoughts his inner nature conceals,

  10. وَذَكَاءِ فَنَّانٍ مُجِيدٍ بَارِعٍ

    وَبَيَانِ نِحْرِيرٍ وفِطْنَةِ تاجِرِ

    And the intelligence of an accomplished, brilliant artist,

    And a learned master's eloquence and a merchant's acumen.

  11. كَفِلتْ لَهُ عُقْبَى النَّجَاحِ المُرْتَجَى

    أُولى التَّجَارِبِ فِي الشَّبَابِ النَّاضِرِ

    His eventual, hoped-for success was assured

    By his earliest trials in the bloom of youth.

  12. أَمَّا الْعَرُوسُ ففِي حُلاَه زِينَة

    توحِي فيَأْتِي الوَصْفُ عَفْوَ الخَاطِرِ

    As for the bride, among his charms is an adornment

    That inspires, so description comes unbidden to mind.

  13. وَيَكَادُ شَاهِدُ حُسْنِهَا وَكَمَالِهَا

    بِالشِّعرِ يَنْطُقُ وَهْوَ لَيْسَ بِشَاعِرِ

    And one who beholds her beauty and perfection almost

    Speaks in verse, though he is no poet.

  14. زَكَّى سَجَايَاهَا الجَمِيلَةَ مَا تُرَى

    مِنْ ذِلكَ الأَدَبِ الجَمِيلِ الوَافِرِ

    Her lovely qualities are attested by what is seen

    Of that abundant, gracious refinement.

  15. أَصْلاَنِ مُفْتَرِقَانِ فِي رَوْضِ العُلَى

    وَصَلَ الْهَوَى فرْعَيْهِما بِأَوَاصِرِ

    Two separate roots in the garden of nobility—

    Love has joined their two branches with bonds.

  16. سُبْحَانَ مَنْ بَرَأَ النَّفوسَ وَمَنْ له

    فِي الْخلقِ تَصرِيفِ العَزِيزِ القَادِرِ

    Glory to Him who fashioned souls, and to Him who wields

    Over creation the sway of the Mighty, the Powerful.

  17. مَا أَكْرَمَ النَّسبَيْنِ حَينَ الْمُلْتَقَى

    وَهُمَا مآثِرُ تَلْتقِي بِمَآثِرِ

    How noble the two lineages when they meet!

    And both are noble legacies meeting noble legacies.

  18. فلْيهْنَإ الْمُتَعَاقِدَانِ وَيُرْزَقَا

    حَظّاً يَدُومُ مِن السرُورِ الْحَاضِرِ

    So may the wedded pair rejoice, and may they be granted

    A lasting share of the present joy.