1. جَمَعَ الصِّحابَ علَى هَوىً وَإِخَاءِ

    نَجْمَانِ مِنْ صَدْنَايَا وَالشَّهبَاءِ

    The friends were gathered in love and brotherhood

    By two stars from Saidnaya and al-Shahba.

  2. طَلَعَا بِأُفْقِ النِّيلِ وَانْجَلَيَا بِهِ

    فِي هَالَةٍ مِنْ سُؤْدِدٍ وَعَلاَءِ

    They rose on the Nile's horizon and shone there,

    In a halo of nobility and eminence.

  3. فَلَكُ الكَنَانَةِ وَهْوَ جَوْهَرَةُ الْعُلَى

    يَجْلُو سَنَاهُ كَوَاكِبَ الأَحْيَاءِ

    Al-Kinana's firmament, itself the jewel of exalted glory—

    Its radiance brings to light the stars among the living.

  4. تَتَلَفَّت الدُّنْيَا إلى أَضْوَائِهَا

    مَبْهُورَةً بِسَواطِعَ الأَضْوَاءِ

    The world turns its gaze toward their lights,

    Dazzled by the blazing rays of light.

  5. فَرَنَا إِلَيْهَا حَبرُ رَوُمَةَ وَانْثَنَى

    يَهْدِي إلى النِجْمَينِ طِيبَ ثَنَاءِ

    So Rome's pontiff gazed toward them and began

    To offer the two stars sweet praise.

  6. شَغَفَتْهُ آياتُ المآثِرِ منْهُمَا

    فَجَزَى عَلَى الآلاءِ بالآلاءِ

    The signs of their noble deeds captivated him,

    So he repaid favors with favors.

  7. وَدَعَا إِلى الرِّحْمَنِ فِي صَلَوَاتِهِ

    يَا رَبِّ بَارِكْ دَارَةَ الكُرَمَاءِ

    And he called to the All-Merciful in his prayers:

    O my Lord, bless the abode of the generous!

  8. حَفْلٌ جَلاَهُ الفَرْقَدَانِ كَمَا جَلاَ

    نَجْمُ المَجُوسِ مَغَارَةَ العَذْرَاءِ

    A gathering illumined by the two Farqad stars, just as

    The Magi's star illumined the Virgin's cave.

  9. جِئْنَا إِليَهِ وَفِي الوِطَابِ نَفَائِسٌ

    عَلَوِيِّة قَصُرَتْ عَلَى الأٌمَرَاءِ

    We came to it, with treasures in our pouches,

    Heavenly treasures, reserved for princes.

  10. المُرُّ فِيهَا وَاللُّبَانُ نَثِيرُنَا

    وَالتِّبرُ بَعْضُ خَوَاطِرِ الشُّعرَاءِ

    The myrrh there and the frankincense are our prose,

    And the gold is some of the poets' musings.

  11. الشِّعرُ سِفْرُ الْمَكْرُمَاتِ يَصُونُهَا

    حِرْصاً وَيَنْقُلُهَا إِلى الأَبْنَاءِ

    Poetry is the book of noble deeds; it preserves them

    With care, and passes them down to posterity.

  12. لَوْلاَهُ لَمْ تُعْرَفْ عَلَى طُولِ المَدَى

    غِرَرُ وَلاَ رُهِنَتْ بِطُولِ بَقَاءِ

    Without it, through the ages, none would know

    Illustrious deeds, nor would their lasting survival be assured.

  13. غَنَّت بَلاَبِلُهُ بِأَيْكَةِ نَدْوَةٍ

    مُتَصَدِّرٌ فِيهَا أَبُو الآبَاءِ

    Its nightingales sang in the grove of a gathering,

    Where the Father of Fathers presided.

  14. النُّورُ فِي قَسَمَاتِهِ وَالحَقُّ فِي

    كَلِمَاتِهِ وَالطُّهرُ فِي الحَوَبَاءِ

    Light is in his features, and truth in

    His words, and purity in his soul.

  15. مُتَهَجِّدٌ للهِ مُضْطَّلعٌ عَلَى

    وِقَرِ السِّنينَ بِفَادِحِ الأَعْبَاءِ

    Praying by night to God, he shoulders,

    Despite the weight of years, crushing burdens.

  16. مُسْتَمْطِرٌ لِلنَّاسِ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ

    مُتَشَفِّع لَهُمُ مِنَ الأَخْطاءِ

    Seeking a rain of his Lord's mercy for the people,

    Interceding for them against their errors.

  17. وَإِذَا عَلَى العَرْشِ اسْتَوى فَكَأَنَّهُ

    موسَى الكَليمُ عَلَى ذُرَى سيناءِ

    And when he takes his seat upon the throne, he is like

    Moses, who spoke with God, upon Sinai's peaks.

  18. بَسَطَ اليَدَ البَيْضَاءَ جَمَّلَهَا التُقَى

    لِيزِينَ صَدْرُ ذَوِي يَدٍ بَيْضَاءِ

    He stretched forth the white hand, made fair by piety,

    To adorn the breast of those with a white hand—

  19. نَعْمَاءَ جَادَ بِهَا خَلِيفَةُ بُطْرُسَ

    وَاللهُ فِيهَا الوَاهِبُ النُّعمَاءِ

    A blessing bestowed generously by Peter's successor,

    And God, through it, is the giver of blessings.

  20. هذِي الرَّصِيعَةُ بَعْضُ مَا زَخَرَتْ بِهِ

    كُتُبُ المَلاَئِكِ مِنْ سَنِيِّ جَزَاءِ

    This jeweled badge is but part of what fills to overflowing

    The angels' books: splendid recompense.