1. صَوْتُ الكِنَانَةِ فِي يُوبِيلِكَ الذَّهَبِي

    صَوْتٌ لَهُ رَجْعَةٌ فِي الْعَالَمِ الْعَرَبي

    The voice of al-Kinana at your golden jubilee

    is a voice whose echo resounds in the Arab world.

  2. فَصَارَ عِيدُكَ فِي الأَيَّامِ مَكْرُمَةً

    أَنْ يُطْلِعَ الشَّمْسَ فِي حَفْلٍ مِنَ الشُّهُبِ

    Thus your celebration became an honor among the days,

    bringing forth the sun amid a gathering of shooting stars.

  3. كَذَاكَ تَسْطَعُ أَنْوَارُ الْمَسِيحِ وَمَا

    مِنْ حَاجِبٍ فِي دَرَارِيهَا وَمُحْتَجَبِ

    Thus shine the lights of Christ, with none

    among their radiant stars to veil or be veiled.

  4. للهِ أنْتَ وَهَذَا الْعِقْدُ مُنْتَظَماً

    حَوْلَ الأَرِيكَةِ مِنَ صَيَّابَةٍ نَخُبِ

    God bless you and this necklace arrayed

    around the throne, of eminent, chosen men.

  5. إِنَّا لَنَفْخَرَ وَالأَعْمَالُ شَاهِدَةٌ

    بِحِبْرِ أَحْبَارِنَا الْعَلاَّمَةِ الأَرِبِ

    We indeed take pride—his deeds bear witness—

    in the prelate of our prelates, learned and discerning,

  6. الطَّاهِرِ الشَّيْمَةِ الصِّدِّيقِ في زَمَنٍ

    وُجُودُ أَمْثَالِهِ فِيهِ مِنَ الْعَجَبِ

    pure of character, saintly in an age

    when the existence of his like is a marvel;

  7. القَانِتِ الْعَائِفِ الدُّنْيَا لَطَالِبِهَا

    العِفِّ عَنْ غَيْرِ بَابِ اللهِ فِي الطَّلَبِ

    devout, spurning worldly life and leaving it to its seekers,

    abstaining, when he seeks, from every door but God's;

  8. الصَّالِحِ الوَرِعِ المُوفِي أَمَانَتَهُ

    إِيفَاءَ مَنْ طَبْعُهُ يَنْبُو عَنِ الرِّيَبِ

    righteous and pious, fulfilling his trust

    as one whose nature recoils from suspicion.

  9. نِفْسٌ أَتَمُّ سَجَايَاهَا تَعَهُّدِهَا

    بِالْعِلْمِ وَالأَخْذِ لِلأَحْدَاثِ بِالأَهِبِ

    A soul whose finest trait is tending itself

    with learning and making provision for coming events;

  10. مِنَ النُّفُوسِ اللَّوَاتِي لاَ يَجُودُ بِهَا

    لِطْفُ الْعِنَايَةِ إِلاَّ فِي مَدَى حُقَبِ

    one of those souls that are not bestowed

    by kindly Providence except at intervals of ages.

  11. أَعَدَّهَا لِلْمُهِمَّاتِ الْجَلاَئِل مَا

    أَعَدَّهَا مِنْ يَقِينٍ غَيْرِ مُؤْتَشِبِ

    What fitted it for mighty undertakings was

    the unclouded certainty with which it was endowed,

  12. وَمِنْ فَضَائِلَ لاَ يُبْهَى مَحَاسِنُهَا

    في الأَمنْ إِلاَّ تَجْلِيهُنَّ في النُّوَبِ

    and virtues whose beauties are surpassed

    in peace only by their shining forth in adversity;

  13. وَمَنْ مَنَاقِبَ أَزْكَاهَا وَأشْرَفَهَا

    تَكَرُّمُ الطَّبْعِ عَنْ حِقْدٍ وَعَنْ غَضَبِ

    and noble qualities, of which the purest and noblest

    is a nature rising above rancor and anger;

  14. وَمِنْ عَزَائِمَ لَمْ تَفْتَأْ مُصَرَّفَةً

    فِي النَّفْعِ لِلْنَّاسِ وَالتَّفْرِيجِ لِلْكَرَبِ

    and resolves that never ceased to be directed

    toward benefiting people and relieving distress.

  15. شَمَائِلُ النُّبْلِ فِي كِيرلُّسَ اجْتَمَعَتْ

    أشْتَاتُهَا بَيْنَ مُوْهُوبٍ وَمُكْتَسَبِ

    The qualities of nobility came together in Kyrillos,

    all their scattered forms, both bestowed and acquired.

  16. وَهِيَ الَّتِي وَطَأَتْ أكْنَافَ مَنْصِبِهِ

    لَهُ وَأَذْنَتْ إِلَيْهِ أَرْفَعَ الرُّتَبِ

    It was they that smoothed the approaches to his office

    for him, and opened to him the loftiest ranks.

  17. فَجَشَّمَتْهُ أُمُوراً لاَ اضِّطِلاعَ بِهَا

    إِلاَّ لِنَدْبِ نَزِيهٍ غَيْرِ مُحْتَقَبِ

    Thus they charged him with matters none could undertake

    but a capable, upright man bearing no guilt.

  18. فِي كُلِّ حالٍ عَلَى الْمَولَى تَوَكُّلُهُ

    كَمْ فِي التَّوَاكُّلِ مَنْجَاةٍ مِنَ الْعَطَبِ

    In every circumstance his trust rests in the Lord:

    how often reliance brings deliverance from ruin!

  19. إِنْ يُرْجَ لاَ يُرْجَ إِلاَّ فَضْلُ بَارِئِهِ

    وَمَنْ رَجَا غَيْرَهُ يَوْماً وَلَمْ يَخِبِ

    If anything is hoped for, it is only his Creator's grace;

    and who ever hoped in another and was not disappointed?

  20. يَعْنِي بِمَا يَتَوَخَّى غَيْرَ مُتَّئِدٍ

    فَمَا يَخَالُ لَهُ إِلاَّهُ مِنْ أَرَبِ

    He attends to his chosen aim without delay,

    for he thinks he has no desire but that.

  21. هَلْ رَدَّدَتْ نَدْوَةٌ ذِكْرَى مَآثِرَهُ

    إِلاَّ وَقَدْ أَخَذَتْهَا هَزَّةُ الطَّرَبِ

    Has any gathering ever recalled his noble deeds

    without being seized by a thrill of delight?

  22. كَمْ بِيعَةٍ قَدِمَتْ عَهْداً فَجَدَّدَهَا

    وَبِيعَةٍ شَادَهَا مَرْفُوعَةَ القِبَبِ

    How many a church, old in years, he renewed,

    and how many he built with soaring domes!

  23. كَمْ دَارِ عِلْمٍ بَنَاهضا أَوْ مُرَدَّمَةٍ

    أَعَادَهَا فِي حِلَىً فَخْمَةٍ قَشِبِ

    How many a house of learning he built, or one in ruins

    he restored with splendid, fresh adornments!

  24. كَمْ مَعْهَدٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ أَنْشَأَهُ

    لِمُسْتَضَامِ وَمُحْرُوبٍ وَمُغْتَرِبِ

    How many an institution he founded in God's cause

    for the oppressed, the dispossessed, and those far from home!

  25. فِي كُلِّ ذَلِكَ لاَ يَأْلو مَبَانِيَهُ

    صَوْناً وَرَعْياً وَلاَ يَشْكُو مِنَ النَّصِبِ

    In all this, he spares no effort for his buildings,

    protecting and tending them, never complaining of toil.

  26. يَكَادُ يَسْأَلُ مَنْ يَدْرِي تَزَهُّدَهُ

    مِنْ أَيْنَ جَاءَ بِذَاكَ الْمَالِ وَالنَّشبِ

    One who knows his asceticism almost asks:

    'Where did he acquire that wealth and property?'

  27. فَضْلٌ مِنَ اللهِ لاَ يَحْصِيهُ حَاسِبُهُ

    يُؤْتَأهُ كُلُّ نَدَىِّ الْكَفِّ مُحْتَسَبِ

    A bounty from God that no reckoner can count,

    bestowed on every open-handed man seeking God's reward.

  28. دَعْ مِنْ عَوَارِفِهِ مَا لَيْسَ يَعْلَمُهُ

    إِلاَّ الَّذِي كَفْكَفْتَ مِنْ دَمْعِهِ السَّرِبِ

    Leave aside those kindnesses of his that none knows

    but the one whose streaming tears you wiped away,

  29. أوِ الَّذِي كَشَفَتْ ضَيْماً أَلَمَّ بِهِ

    أَوِ الَّذِي مَسَحَتْ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ وَصِبِ

    or the one from whom they lifted an injustice that befell him,

    or the one whose suffering they wiped away.

  30. نَطَّافُ سُحْبِ وَلَكِنْ لاَ يُخَالِطُهَا

    عَوَارِضُ الْبَرْقِ وَالأَرَعَادِ في السُّحُبِ

    Rain-pouring clouds, yet mingling with them are no

    flashes of lightning or thunderclaps amid the clouds.

  31. فَلاَ الإِذَاعَةُ تُدْمِي قَلْبَ مَنْ جَبِرَتْ

    وَلاَ الإِشَادَةُ تَنْضَى سِتْرَ مَنْتَقَبِ

    So publicity never makes the heart of one they healed bleed,

    nor does acclaim strip the covering from one who is veiled.

  32. الصَّمْتُ أَفْصَحُ وَالأَفْعَالُ نَاطِقَةٌ

    مِمَّا تُنَمِّقَهُ الأقْوَالُ في الْخُطُبِ

    Silence is more eloquent, while deeds are speaking,

    than what words embellish in speeches.

  33. وَالسَّعْيُ أَبْلَغُ في نُجْحٍ وَمسْعَدَةٍ

    لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ شَقْشَقَاتِ المدْرَةِ الذَّرِبِ

    And effort is more effective in achieving success and aid

    for people than the bombast of a glib spokesman.

  34. إِدا النُّفُوسُ إلى غَايَاتِهَا اتَّجَهَتْ

    وَلَمْ تُعَوِّلُ عَلَى الأَوْصَافِ وَالنَّسَبِ

    When souls turn toward their goals

    and do not rely on labels and lineage,

  35. فَالنَّقْصُ في المُتَجَنِّي أَنْ تُنَقِّصُهَا

    وَالْعَيْبُ في رَأْيهِ الْمَأْفُونَ أَنْ يَعِبِ

    any belittling of them reveals the detractor's own deficiency,

    and fault-finding exposes his foolish judgment's flaw.

  36. وَكَيْفَ يُحْسِنُ في فَضْلٍ شَهَادَتُهُ

    مَنْ لاَ يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ الْجَدِّ وَاللَّعِبِ

    And how can a man testify rightly to merit

    who cannot distinguish earnestness from play?

  37. إن الأُوْلَى بِالهُدَى وَالرِّفْقِ سِسْتَهُمُ

    دَهْراً سِيَاسَةَ رَاعِ صَالِحٍ وَأَبِ

    Indeed, those you ruled with guidance and gentleness

    for an age, as a good shepherd and a father—

  38. فَمَا ادْخَرْتَ نَفِيساً قَدْ تَضُنُّ بِهِ

    عَلَى الذَّرَاِري نَفْسُ الْوَالِدِ الحَدِبِ

    for you withheld no precious thing that might be begrudged

    to children by a loving father's heart—

  39. لَيَعْرِفُونَ لَكَ الْفَضْلَ الْعَظِيمَ بِمَا

    أَوْليتَ مِنْ مِنَنٍ مَوْصُولَةِ السَّبَبِ

    surely acknowledge your great merit for what

    you bestowed: favors whose bond remains unbroken.

  40. يَا سَادَةٌ يَزْدَهَى هَذَا الْمُقَامُ بِهِمْ

    مِنَ الأَسَاقِفَةِ الأَعْلاَمِ وَالنُّخَبِ

    O dignitaries in whom this gathering takes pride,

    among the illustrious bishops and the elite,

  41. مَا أَبْهَجَ الْعِيدَ وَالأَقْطَابُ تَجْمَعُهُمْ

    رَوَابِطُ الْوَدِّ حَوْلَ السَّيِّدِ الْقُطُبِ

    how joyous the feast, with its leading figures brought together

    by bonds of affection around the master, their pivot!

  42. هَذِي الْمُشَارَكَةُ الْحُسْنَى تُسَجِّلُهَا

    لَكُمْ جَوَانِحُنَا فَضْلاً عَنِ الْكُتُبِ

    This gracious participation is inscribed

    for you within our hearts, as well as in books.

  43. وَيَا مَلِيكاً ظَفِرْنَا مِنْ رِعَايَتِهِ

    بحُظْوَةٍ لَمْ تَدَعْ في النَّفْسِ مِنَ رَغِبِ

    And O king, through whose care we have gained

    favor that left no longing in the soul,

  44. قَلَّ الثَّنَاءُ عَلَيْهَا في الْوَفَاءِ بِهَا

    لَوْ قُرْبَهُ مِنَ أَنْفُسِ الْقُرَبِ

    praise falls short of doing justice to it,

    even if offered among the most precious offerings.

  45. حَمْدٌ أَجَابَ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبَ دَاعِيَهُ

    وَلَّى بِهِ فَخْرُ مَنْدُوبٍ وَمُنْتَدَبِ

    Praise whose summons the heart has answered,

    borne proudly by envoy and delegate.

  46. فَهَلْ لَدَى بَابِكَ الْعَالِيِّ يَشْفَعُهُ

    صُدُورُهُ عَنْ صُدُورٍ فِيهِ لَمْ تَرِبِ

    So, at your lofty gate, will it find an intercessor in

    its issuing from hearts that never doubted it?

  47. للهِ دَرَّكَ فِيمَنْ سَادَ مُحْتَكِماً

    مِنْ عَاهِلٍ عَادِلٍ للهِ مُرْتَقِبِ

    How excellent you are among those who reign in judgment,

    a just sovereign mindful of God!

  48. مُقَلَّدٌ مِنَ سَجَايَاهُ نِظَامُ حُلَىً

    يَبُزُّ كُلَّ نِظَامٍ مُوْنَقٍ عَجِبِ

    He wears a necklace of jewels fashioned from his virtues,

    outshining every lovely, wondrous necklace.

  49. يَرْعَى الْطَّوَائِفَ شَتَّى فِي مَذَاهِبَهَا

    وفي هَوَى مِصْرَ شَعْباً غَيْرَ مَنْشَعِبِ

    He tends the communities, diverse in their creeds,

    yet one undivided people in their love of Egypt.

  50. تَحِيطُ حُبّاً وَإِجْلاَلاً بِسُدَّتِهِ

    كَمَا يُحَاطُ سَوَادُ الْعَيْنِ بِالْهُدُبِ

    They encircle his throne with love and reverence,

    as the eye's dark pupil is encircled by lashes.

  51. بَنَى الْمَفَاخِرَ َأنْوَاعاً مُنَوَّعَةً

    لِلْدِّينِ وَالْعِلْمِ أوْ لِلْفَنِّ وَالأَدَبِ

    He built glories of many varied kinds,

    for religion and learning, or for art and letters.

  52. وَقَادَ في سُبُلِ الْعَلْيَاءِ أُمَّتَهُ

    وَرَاضَهَا في مَرَاسِ الْدَّهْرِ بِالْغَلَبِ

    And he led his nation along the paths of eminence,

    and trained it to prevail in wrestling with time.

  53. يَبْغِي بِكُلِّ مَرَامِي عَبْقَرِيَتِهِ

    تَكَافُؤَ الْحَسَبِ المَصْرِيِّ وَالْنَّسَبِ

    He seeks, with every aim of his genius,

    equality between Egyptian merit and lineage.

  54. فَدُمْ لِمِصْرِكَ يَا مَوْلاَيّ مَفْخَرَةً

    فَوْقَ الْمَفَاخِرِ بَلْ لِلْشَّرْقِ وَالْعَرَبِ

    So remain, my lord, a glory to your Egypt

    above all glories—nay, to the East and the Arabs!