سَبَقْتَ بِالْفَضْلِ فَاسْمَعْ مَا وَحَاهُ فَمِي

سَبَقْتَ بِالْفَضْلِ فَاسْمَعْ مَا وَحَاهُ فَمِي

فَأَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِهَذَا الدُّرِّ مِنْ كَلِمِي

فَأَنْتَ أَوْلَى بِهَذَا الدُّرِّ مِنْ كَلِمِي

You took the lead in generosity; so hear what my mouth has uttered.

You preceded with virtue, so listen to what my mouth wished to confide,

For you are most deserving of these pearls from my words.

For you are more deserving of this pearl than my words.

يَا رَائِدَ الْوُدِّ قَدْ صَادَفْتَ مُنْتَجَعَاً

يَا رَائِدَ الْوُدِّ قَدْ صَادَفْتَ مُنْتَجَعَاً

بَيْنَ الْجَوَانِحِ فَانْزِلْهُ وَلا تَرِمِ

بَيْنَ الْجَوَانِحِ فَانْزِلْهُ وَلا تَرِمِ

O scout of friendship, you have found a pasture

O guide of love, you have come upon a refuge,

Between my ribs—so settle there and do not depart.

Among the hearts, so alight and do not cast.

أَوْلَيْتَنِي مِنْكَ فَضْلاً قَدْ مَلَكْتَ بِهِ

أَوْلَيْتَنِي مِنْكَ فَضْلاً قَدْ مَلَكْتَ بِهِ

قَلْبِي فَهَاكَ يَدِي فِي الْوُدِّ فَاحْتَكِمِ

قَلْبِي فَهَاكَ يَدِي فِي الْوُدِّ فَاحْتَكِمِ

You bestowed your kindness on me, through which you have won

You have granted me your abundant favor, with which

My heart; so take my hand in friendship and set your terms.

You have conquered my heart, so here is my hand in love, let us contend.

إِنَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ إِنْ صَحَّتْ غَدَتْ نَسَباً

إِنَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ إِنْ صَحَّتْ غَدَتْ نَسَباً

بَيْنَ الأَبَاعِدِ تُغْنِيهِمْ عَنِ الرَّحِمِ

بَيْنَ الأَبَاعِدِ تُغْنِيهِمْ عَنِ الرَّحِمِ

Indeed, affection, if genuine, becomes kinship

Indeed, if sincere, love becomes a lineage,

Among unrelated people, sparing them the need for blood ties.

Between the estranged, sparing them lineage.

فَثِقْ بِذِمَّةِ عَهْدٍ فِيكَ صَادِقَةٍ

فَثِقْ بِذِمَّةِ عَهْدٍ فِيكَ صَادِقَةٍ

فَلَيْسَ كُلُّ خَلِيلٍ صَادِقَ الذِّمَمِ

فَلَيْسَ كُلُّ خَلِيلٍ صَادِقَ الذِّمَمِ

So trust in the faithful bond of a pledge to you;

So trust the covenant of sincere loyalty in you,

For not every close friend is faithful to his pledges.

For not every friend is true to covenants.

وَاعْذِرْ إِذَا لَمْ أَجِدْ فِي الْقَوْلِ مُتَّسَعاً

وَاعْذِرْ إِذَا لَمْ أَجِدْ فِي الْقَوْلِ مُتَّسَعاً

فَالْمَرْءُ لا يَبْلُغُ الأَفْلاكَ بِالْهِمَمِ

فَالْمَرْءُ لا يَبْلُغُ الأَفْلاكَ بِالْهِمَمِ

And forgive me if I find no ample scope in speech,

Pardon me if I cannot find ample room for words,

For a man cannot reach the celestial spheres through aspiration.

For man cannot reach the celestial spheres by determination.

لا زِلْتَ تَرْفُلُ فِي أَثْوَابِ عَافِيَةٍ

لا زِلْتَ تَرْفُلُ فِي أَثْوَابِ عَافِيَةٍ

مَوْشِيَّةٍ بِطِرَازِ الْحَمْدِ وَالنِّعَمِ

مَوْشِيَّةٍ بِطِرَازِ الْحَمْدِ وَالنِّعَمِ

May you ever walk proudly in robes of well-being,

You continue to be adorned in robes of wellbeing,

Embroidered with the pattern of praise and blessings.

Walked gracefully with the embroidery of praise and bounty.