أَمِن أَجلِ أَن بانَ الخَليط المُلائِمُ

أَمِن أَجلِ أَن بانَ الخَليط المُلائِمُ

دَعاكَ الهَوى وَاِستَجهَلتكَ المَعالمُ

دَعاكَ الهَوى وَاِستَجهَلتكَ المَعالمُ

Is it because the congenial company has departed

Is it because the suitable mixture became clear

Is it because the agreeable companions have departed,

that passion called you and the landmarks drove you to folly?

That desire called you and the landmarks misguided you

That passion summoned you, and the landmarks provoked your folly?

فَخَفِّض عَليكَ الهَمَّ تَحظَ بِراحَةٍ

فَخَفِّض عَليكَ الهَمَّ تَحظَ بِراحَةٍ

فَما نالَ خَفضَ العَيشِ إِلّا المُسالمُ

فَما نالَ خَفضَ العَيشِ إِلّا المُسالمُ

So lighten your burden of grief and gain repose,

So lower your worries upon yourself to gain some comfort

So ease your burden of worry, and you shall find comfort,

for only the peaceable attain an easy life.

For none attained the ease of living except the submissive

For none attains a life of ease but the one who seeks peace.

وَدَع عَنكَ تَسويفَ الأَماني فَإِنَّها

وَدَع عَنكَ تَسويفَ الأَماني فَإِنَّها

خَوادِعُ لا يُصغي إِلَيهِنَّ حازِم

خَوادِعُ لا يُصغي إِلَيهِنَّ حازِم

And abandon the delays of wishful hopes, for they are

And leave your procrastination of wishes for they are

Cast aside the procrastination of hopes, for they are

deceivers to whom no prudent man listens.

Deceivers that no resolute person listens to

Deceits to which no prudent man lends an ear.

وَأَدنِ لِقَطعِ هَوجاءَ ضامِراً

وَأَدنِ لِقَطعِ هَوجاءَ ضامِراً

فَما العِزُّ إِلّا أَن تَخُبَّ الرَواسِمُ

فَما العِزُّ إِلّا أَن تَخُبَّ الرَواسِمُ

And bring up a lean mount to cross a windswept desert,

And come closer to cutting off raging passion

And bring closer, to cross the wilderness, a lean steed,

for honor is nothing but the trotting of swift camels.

For honor is nothing but the banners being brought down

For glory is found only where the camels trot.

إِذا ما أَحسَّت نَبأَةً مِن مُحَدِّثٍ

إِذا ما أَحسَّت نَبأَةً مِن مُحَدِّثٍ

تَقولُ أَعارَتها الجَناحَ النَعائِم

تَقولُ أَعارَتها الجَناحَ النَعائِم

Whenever they catch a faint sound from someone speaking,

If a female news bearer senses something from a tale teller

When she senses a whisper from a rider,

you would say the ostriches had lent them wings.

She says fancy has lent it the wings of blessings

You would say the ostriches had lent her their wings.

نَزورُ فَتىً أَحيا المَكارِمَ بَعدَما

نَزورُ فَتىً أَحيا المَكارِمَ بَعدَما

مَضى زَمَنٌ وَهيَ العِظامُ الرَمائِمُ

مَضى زَمَنٌ وَهيَ العِظامُ الرَمائِمُ

We visit a youth who revived noble virtues after

We visit a young man who revived virtues after

We visit a youth who revived noble virtues after

an age had passed while they lay as crumbling bones:

A time when they were just withered bones

A time had passed when they were but decaying bones;

سُعودَ بَني الدُنيا سَليلَ إِمامِها

سُعودَ بَني الدُنيا سَليلَ إِمامِها

مَليكاً تَرَبَّتهُ المُلوكُ الأَعاظِم

مَليكاً تَرَبَّتهُ المُلوكُ الأَعاظِم

Saud, good fortune of the world's people, scion of its imam,

Su’ud son of the masters of the world, raised by kings

Saud of all the world's people, scion of its Imam,

a king reared by the greatest kings.

A kind hearted young man who trembles for the dew

A king nurtured by the greatest of kings.

فَتىً أَريحِيَّ النَفسِ يَهتَزُّ لِلنَدّى

فَتىً أَريحِيَّ النَفسِ يَهتَزُّ لِلنَدّى

وَيَعلَمُ أَنَّ البَخلَ لِلمَجدِ هادِمُ

وَيَعلَمُ أَنَّ البَخلَ لِلمَجدِ هادِمُ

A youth openhanded in spirit, who thrills at generosity

And knows that stinginess destroys glory

A youth of spirited soul, who trembles with generosity,

and knows that stinginess destroys glory.

A young man who in fright gave the sword its right

And knows that miserliness is the destroyer of glory.

فَتىً كانَ يُعطي السَيفَ في الرَوعِ حَقَّهُ

فَتىً كانَ يُعطي السَيفَ في الرَوعِ حَقَّهُ

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا السُيوفَ مَعاصِم

إِذا لَم يَكُن إِلّا السُيوفَ مَعاصِم

A youth who gave the sword its due in battle's terror,

If there was nothing left but swords as protectors

A youth who gave the sword its due in the heat of battle,

when swords alone provided refuge.

A young man who has never spent a night conversing with a flower

When there were no bracelets but the blades themselves.

فَتىً لَم يَبِت لَيلاً يُسامِرُ مِزهَراً

فَتىً لَم يَبِت لَيلاً يُسامِرُ مِزهَراً

وَلا تَتَصاباهُ الحِسانُ النَواعِم

وَلا تَتَصاباهُ الحِسانُ النَواعِم

A youth who never spent a night keeping company with a lute,

Nor did beautiful singing women accompany him

A youth who spent no night entertaining a lute,

nor do tender beauties lure him into dalliance.

But he is passionate about glory, coveting

Nor was he captivated by soft, beautiful maidens,

وَلكِنَّهُ بِالمَجدِ صَبٌّ مُوَلَّعٌ

وَلكِنَّهُ بِالمَجدِ صَبٌّ مُوَلَّعٌ

يَرومُ أُموراً دونَهُنَّ مَقاحِمُ

يَرومُ أُموراً دونَهُنَّ مَقاحِمُ

But he is a lover of glory, passionately devoted;

Matters none other than the brave would dare to face

But he is a lover infatuated with glory alone,

he seeks deeds with perilous passages barring the way.

A young man whose forefathers bequeathed him glory

Seeking goals guarded by perilous obstacles.

فَتىً أَورَثَتهُ المَجدَ آباؤُهُ الأولى

فَتىً أَورَثَتهُ المَجدَ آباؤُهُ الأولى

وَبَذلُ النَدى وَالمُرهَفاتُ الصَوارِمُ

وَبَذلُ النَدى وَالمُرهَفاتُ الصَوارِمُ

A youth bequeathed glory by his forefathers of old,

And whose sacrifice and fierce acts are the keys to sublimity

A youth whose ancient forebears bequeathed him glory,

and by lavish bounty and finely honed, keen swords.

When banners bow to them one day out of dread

Along with the gift of bounty and sharp, slender swords.

فَهُنَّ مَفاتيحُ العُلى وَعِمادُها

فَهُنَّ مَفاتيحُ العُلى وَعِمادُها

إِذا سَجَدَت يَوماً لهُنَّ الجَاجِمُ

إِذا سَجَدَت يَوماً لهُنَّ الجَاجِمُ

For they are the keys to eminence and its mainstay,

Are they not the folk whose mention flew

For these are the keys to eminence and its pillars,

when, one day, skulls bow down before them.

With their generosity, valor and overwhelming might?

When skulls bow down in prostration before them.

أَلَيسَ مِن القَومِ الذي طارَ ذِكرُهُم

أَلَيسَ مِن القَومِ الذي طارَ ذِكرُهُم

بِبَذلِ اللُهى وَالبَأسِ وَالجَوُّ قاتِمُ

بِبَذلِ اللُهى وَالبَأسِ وَالجَوُّ قاتِمُ

Is he not of the people whose fame has flown far

If asked a favor, their palms were rain clouds

Is he not of the people whose fame has taken flight,

for lavish gifts and valor when the air is dark?

But rain poured from them was silver coins

Through giving gifts, and valor when the air is dark with war?

إِذا سُئِلوا المَعروفَ كانَت أَكُفُّهُم

إِذا سُئِلوا المَعروفَ كانَت أَكُفُّهُم

سَحائِبَ لكِن وَبلُهُنَّ الدَراهِمُ

سَحائِبَ لكِن وَبلُهُنَّ الدَراهِمُ

When asked for kindness, their palms become

And if they raged, then death was some of their punishment

If asked for kindness, their palms become

clouds—but their downpour is dirhams.

And the mighty bow to them pleading and begging

Rainclouds, yet their downpour is silver coins.

وَإِن غَضِبوا فَالمَوتُ بَعضُ عِقابِهِم

وَإِن غَضِبوا فَالمَوتُ بَعضُ عِقابِهِم

وَتُستَلُّ مِنهُ بِالخُضوعِ السَخائِمُ

وَتُستَلُّ مِنهُ بِالخُضوعِ السَخائِمُ

And if they grow angry, death is but part of their punishment,

The rule is yours by inheritance from your father and by acquisition

And if they anger, death is but a part of their retribution,

yet submission draws the rancor out of him.

And do lionesses give birth to anyone but baby lions?

And hatreds are drawn out only by submission.

لَكَ المُلكُ إِرثاً مِن أَبيكَ وَمَكسَباً

لَكَ المُلكُ إِرثاً مِن أَبيكَ وَمَكسَباً

وَهل تَلِدُ الأشبالَ إِلّا الضَراغِمُ

وَهل تَلِدُ الأشبالَ إِلّا الضَراغِمُ

Kingship is yours, inherited from your father and earned,

Is not your father Faisal the ingenious

The kingdom is yours by inheritance from your father and by conquest,

and do any but lions beget lion cubs?

Whose sublimity nurtured him while still toddling?

And do any but lions sire lion cubs?

أَلَيسَ أَبوكَ العَبقَرِيُّ بنُ فَيصلٍ

أَلَيسَ أَبوكَ العَبقَرِيُّ بنُ فَيصلٍ

هُماماً تَرَبَّتهُ العُلى وَهيَ رائِمُ

هُماماً تَرَبَّتهُ العُلى وَهيَ رائِمُ

Is not your father, the brilliant son of Faisal,

By him we wore the days’ new clothing while it exuded

Is not your father the genius, the son of Faisal,

a hero whom eminence reared as a tender mother?

Comfort and warmth, its harshness melting away

A hero raised by Eminence while she gazed fondly upon him?

لَبِسنا به الأَيّامَ رَهواً عُبابُها

لَبِسنا به الأَيّامَ رَهواً عُبابُها

وَهَبذَت رُخاءً وَهيَ سَخمٌ سَمائِمُ

وَهَبذَت رُخاءً وَهيَ سَخمٌ سَمائِمُ

Through him we wore the days, their surging waves grown calm,

He has whiffs of resolute determination but also gentleness

Through him we weathered the days, their waves made calm,

and they swept gently by, though they were soot-black, scorching winds.

By which good fortune comes to the rightful and misery to the opponent

And they blew as a gentle breeze, though they were scorching winds.

لَه نَفَحاتٌ مِن عِقابٍ وَنائِلٍ

لَه نَفَحاتٌ مِن عِقابٍ وَنائِلٍ

بِها يَسعدُ المَولى وَيَشقى المُقاوِم

بِها يَسعدُ المَولى وَيَشقى المُقاوِم

From him come gusts of punishment and bounty,

Lenient if clemency has a place while for the pompous fool

He possesses impulses of both punishment and benevolence,

through which the ally prospers and the adversary suffers.

There is an inseparable, incurable malady

By which the ally is blessed and the resistor is ruined.

حَليمٌ إِذا ما كانَ لِلحِلم مَوضِعٌ

حَليمٌ إِذا ما كانَ لِلحِلم مَوضِعٌ

وَلِلجاهِل المَغرورِ داءٌ مُلازِم

وَلِلجاهِل المَغرورِ داءٌ مُلازِم

Forbearing whenever forbearance has its place,

Ever forgiving of the sinner when he repents

Forbearing when there is room for forbearance,

but a constant scourge to the self-deluded fool.

No matter how major his crimes seem to him

Yet for the deluded fool, he is an incurable affliction.

عَفُوٌّ عَن الجاني إِذا جاءَ تائِباً

عَفُوٌّ عَن الجاني إِذا جاءَ تائِباً

وَإِن عَظُمَت مِنهُ إِلَيهِ الجرائِم

وَإِن عَظُمَت مِنهُ إِلَيهِ الجرائِم

Forgiving toward the wrongdoer who comes repentant,

And how often for you one day a themed parade enticed

Pardoning the offender if he comes in repentance,

however grave the crimes he committed against him.

Both Arabs submitted obediently to you as well as foreigners

Even if his crimes against him were grave.

وَكَم لكُمُ يَوما أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

وَكَم لكُمُ يَوما أَغَرَّ مُحَجَّلاً

به العَربُ اِنقادت لكُم وَالأَعاجِمُ

به العَربُ اِنقادت لكُم وَالأَعاجِمُ

And how many a white-blazed, white-stockinged day is yours,

You made the gardens of glory a pilgrimage for people

How many a bright, illustrious day is yours,

on which Arabs and non-Arabs submitted to you.

So they performed hajj but virtues will never cease to attract pilgrims

In which both Arabs and non-Arabs submitted to your rule.

جَعَلتُم رِياضَ المَجدِ للنّاسِ مَوسِماً

جَعَلتُم رِياضَ المَجدِ للنّاسِ مَوسِماً

فَحَجّوا وَما زالَت تُحَجُّ المَكارِم

فَحَجّوا وَما زالَت تُحَجُّ المَكارِم

You made the gardens of glory a pilgrimage gathering for mankind,

Going back laden with your booty, riches and war captives

You made the gardens of glory a pilgrimage site for the people,

so they made pilgrimage, as noble virtues have always drawn pilgrims.

You mastered seizing glory from where it resided

So they flocked there, for noble deeds are ever a shrine.

يَروحونَ تَشكو عيسُهُم ثِقل رِفدِهِم

يَروحونَ تَشكو عيسُهُم ثِقل رِفدِهِم

مَغانِمُ مِنكُم وَهيَ فيهِم مَغارِمُ

مَغانِمُ مِنكُم وَهيَ فيهِم مَغارِمُ

They depart, their pale camels complaining of their gifts' weight—

Even if the pages had suppressed it in the folds of enormous tomes

They depart, their camels complaining of the heavy gifts they bear,

gains from you, yet debts upon them.

There are men who sacrifice themselves for the sake of not

Spoils from you, which upon them are binding debts.

وَلِعتُم بِأَخذِ المَجدِ مِن مُستَقَرِّهِ

وَلِعتُم بِأَخذِ المَجدِ مِن مُستَقَرِّهِ

وَلو كَظَمتهُ في لَهاها الأَراقِمُ

وَلو كَظَمتهُ في لَهاها الأَراقِمُ

You are passionately bent on taking glory from its stronghold,

Having to offer the wealth around their necks, sealed treasures, to you

You are impassioned with seizing glory from its source,

even if speckled serpents held it fast within their throats.

Oh guide, good fortune has singled out

Even if the vipers held it fast within their jaws.

فِداكُم رِجالٌ دونَ أَعناقِ مالهِم

فِداكُم رِجالٌ دونَ أَعناقِ مالهِم

مَغاليقُ أَقفالٍ عَلَيها خَواتِمُ

مَغاليقُ أَقفالٍ عَلَيها خَواتِمُ

May men be your ransom, whose wealth's necks are guarded

Su’ud and no talismans have been tied to him

May men be your ransom, who guard their wealth,

by bolted locks with seals upon them.

When the days smiled upon him auspiciously

With bolted locks upon which seals are set.

إِمامَ الهُدى إِنَّ السَعادَةَ لاحَظَت

إِمامَ الهُدى إِنَّ السَعادَةَ لاحَظَت

سُعوداً وَلم تُعقَد عَلَيهِ التَمائِمُ

سُعوداً وَلم تُعقَد عَلَيهِ التَمائِمُ

O imam of guidance, good fortune looked kindly upon

Preempting and ushering in his fortunes

O Imam of Guidance, good fortune has watched over

Saud before amulets were tied upon him.

So no matter what role you groom him for he

Saud, even before amulets were tied upon him.

تَباشَرَتِ الدُنيا به حينَ بَشَّرَت

تَباشَرَتِ الدُنيا به حينَ بَشَّرَت

قَوابلهُ وَاستَقبَلَتهُ المَغانِمُ

قَوابلهُ وَاستَقبَلَتهُ المَغانِمُ

The world rejoiced in him when glad tidings were proclaimed

Is ripe for your contentment, fate taking its sure course

The world rejoiced in him when the news was brought

by his midwives, and bounties greeted him.

And it suffices that among all the people on God’s vast earth

By his midwives, and spoils of war welcomed his arrival.

فَمَهما تُرَشِّحهُ لِأَمرٍ فَإنَّهُ

فَمَهما تُرَشِّحهُ لِأَمرٍ فَإنَّهُ

مَليءٌ بِما يُرضيكَ وَالسِنُّ باسِمُ

مَليءٌ بِما يُرضيكَ وَالسِنُّ باسِمُ

Whatever undertaking you nominate him for, he is

He had no critics

So whatever task you groom him for, he is

fully able to please you, his teeth showing in a smile.

He cloaked himself with the essence of glory and its due destiny

Capable of pleasing you, while his youth is still smiling.

وَيَكفيكَ مِنه أَنَّهُ لَم يَكُن له

وَيَكفيكَ مِنه أَنَّهُ لَم يَكُن له

مِنَ الناسِ في الأَرضِ العَريضَةِ لائِم

مِنَ الناسِ في الأَرضِ العَريضَةِ لائِم

And this suffices you concerning him: he has had

Girded him for magnanimous, unwavering ambitions

It suffices you to know that he has never had,

no detractor among mankind on this wide earth.

Glories from Banu Nizar and Yarub converged upon him

Among all people in the wide earth, a single critic.

تَوَشَّحَ بِالمَجدِ الصَميمِ وَشَمَّرَت

تَوَشَّحَ بِالمَجدِ الصَميمِ وَشَمَّرَت

بهِ لِاِبتِناءِ المَكرُماتِ العَزائِم

بهِ لِاِبتِناءِ المَكرُماتِ العَزائِم

He girded himself with pure glory, and firm resolve rallied

Houses whose pillars are the protection of kings

He adorned himself with pure glory, and resolutions

through him to build noble deeds.

How many helmets under a mail coif have they split with a spear

Prepared with him to build the structures of nobility.

تَلاقَت عَليهِ مِن نِزارٍ ويَعرُبٍ

تَلاقَت عَليهِ مِن نِزارٍ ويَعرُبٍ

بُيوتٌ لها هامُ المُلوكِ دَعائِم

بُيوتٌ لها هامُ المُلوكِ دَعائِم

In him converged, from Nizar and Ya'rub,

And how many chests their sharp swords have pierced where bravery resides

In him converge, from the lines of Nizar and Ya'rub,

houses whose pillars are the heads of kings.

And what is glory if not aspiration and inheritance?

Houses whose pillars are the very heads of kings.

فَكَم فَلَقوا مِن هامَةٍ تَحتَ قَونَسٍ

فَكَم فَلَقوا مِن هامَةٍ تَحتَ قَونَسٍ

وَكَم طَعَنوا حَيثُ اللها وَالغَلاصِمُ

وَكَم طَعَنوا حَيثُ اللها وَالغَلاصِمُ

How many a head beneath a helmet they have split,

These two combined perfectly in him though he was still tottering

How many skulls they have split beneath a helmet,

and how often stabbed where soft palates and windpipes lie!

And may the most virtuous prayer and peace be upon him

And how many they have pierced through throat and gullet.

وَما المَجدُ إِلّا هِمَّةٌ وَوِراثَة

وَما المَجدُ إِلّا هِمَّةٌ وَوِراثَة

وَقد جُمِعا فيه وَذو الضِغنِ راغِمُ

وَقد جُمِعا فيه وَذو الضِغنِ راغِمُ

Glory is nothing but ambition and inheritance,

By whom Hashim was ennobled amongst all worlds

For glory is nothing but high ambition and inheritance,

and both are joined in him, while the spiteful man is humbled.

Muhammad is the guide, intercessor, and his family

And both are combined in him, despite the hateful envier.

وَأزكى صلاةٍ مع سَلامٍ على الذي

وَأزكى صلاةٍ مع سَلامٍ على الذي

به شَرُفَت بينَ العَوالم هاشِمُ

به شَرُفَت بينَ العَوالم هاشِمُ

And the purest blessings, with peace, upon him

And companions no lines of poetry properly eulogized

And the purest prayer and peace be upon him

through whom Hashim was ennobled among the worlds:

Through whom the clan of Hashim was honored among all worlds,

محمدٍ الهادي الشَفيعِ وَآلهِ

محمدٍ الهادي الشَفيعِ وَآلهِ

وَأَصحابه ما جَبَّرَ الشِعرَ ناظِمُ

وَأَصحابه ما جَبَّرَ الشِعرَ ناظِمُ

Muhammad, the guide and intercessor, and upon his family

Muhammad, the Guide, the Intercessor, and his family,

and his Companions, as long as a poet sets verse aright.

And his companions, as long as a poet weaves his verse.