هذاthis «نفمبرNovember»، قمrise! وحيّand salute المدفعاthe cannon
هذا «نفمبر»، قم! وحيّ المدفعا
واذكرand remember جهادكyour struggle والسنينand the years الأربعاthe four
واذكر جهادك والسنين الأربعا
This is November! Rise and salute the cannon!
This is November—rise and salute the cannon,
Remember your struggle and the four years.
And remember your struggle and the four years passed.
واقرأand read كتابكyour book، للأنامto all people مفصلاًin full detail
واقرأ كتابك، للأنام مفصلاً
تقرأreads بهthrough it الدنياthe world الحديثthe tale الأروعاthe most wondrous!
تقرأ به الدنيا الحديث الأروعا!
Read your book to all people in full detail;
Read your book, detailed for all mankind,
through it the world reads the most wondrous tale!
Through which the world reads the most magnificent tale!
واصدعْand cleave بثورتكwith your revolution الزمانTime وأهلهand its people
واصدعْ بثورتك الزمان وأهله
واقرعْand strike بدولتكwith your state الورىhumankind والمجمعاand the assembly
واقرعْ بدولتك الورى والمجمعا
Cleave Time and its people with your revolution;
Split open Time and its people with your revolution,
strike humankind and its assembly with your state.
And strike the world and its assemblies with your state.
واعقدْand convene لحقّكfor your right فيin الملاحمepic battles ندوةًa gathering
واعقدْ لحقّك في الملاحم ندوةً
يقفstands السلاحweaponry بهاin it خطيباًas an orator مصقعاeloquent
يقف السلاح بها خطيباً مصقعا
Convene a gathering for your right amid epic battles,
Convene a council for your rights amidst the epics,
where weaponry stands as an eloquent orator.
Where the weapon stands as an eloquent orator.
وقلand say الجزائرAlgeria! واصغِand listen إنif ذكرis mentioned اسمهاits name
وقل الجزائر! واصغِ إن ذكر اسمها
تجدyou will find الجبابرَthe tyrants ساجدينprostrating وركّعاand bowing
تجد الجبابرَ ساجدين وركّعا
Say “Algeria!” and listen if its name is mentioned:
Say "Algeria!" and listen when her name is spoken,
you will find tyrants prostrate and bowing.
You shall find tyrants bowing and prostrate.
إنindeed الجزائرAlgeria فيin الوجودexistence رسالةٌa message
إن الجزائر في الوجود رسالةٌ
الشعبthe people حرّرهاdrafted it، وربّكand your Lord وقَّعاsigned
الشعب حرّرها، وربّك وقَّعا
Algeria is a message in existence:
Algeria is, in all existence, a divine message:
the people drafted it, and your Lord signed it.
The people composed it, and your Lord signed it.
إنindeed الجزائرAlgeria قطعٌةa piece قدسيةٌsacred
إن الجزائر قطعٌة قدسيةٌ
فيin الكونthe universe لحنهاset it to music الرصاصbullets ووقّعاand gave it rhythm
في الكون لحنها الرصاص ووقّعا
Algeria is a sacred piece,
Algeria is a sacred fragment of reality;
set to music and rhythm by bullets in the universe;
Upon the cosmos, bullets composed and timed its melody.
وقصيدةٌand a poem أزليةٌeternal، أبياتهاits verses
وقصيدةٌ أزليةٌ، أبياتها
حمراءred، كانwas لهاfor it «نفمبرNovember» مطلعاan opening
حمراء، كان لها «نفمبر» مطلعا
and an eternal poem, whose verses
An eternal poem whose verses are writ in red,
are red; November was its opening.
For which November served as the opening line.
نظمتcomposed قوافيهاits rhymes الجماجمُskulls فيin الوغىbattle
نظمت قوافيها الجماجمُ في الوغى
وسقىand watered النجيعُfresh blood رويَّهاits rhyme-letter فتدفَّعاso it surged forth
وسقى النجيعُ رويَّها فتدفَّعا
Skulls composed its rhymes in battle,
Skulls composed its rhymes amidst the fray,
and fresh blood watered its rhyme-letter, which surged forth.
And flowing blood watered its poetic meter.
غنّىsang بهاof it حرُّone free in الضميرconscience، فأيقظتso it awakened
غنّى بها حرُّ الضمير، فأيقظت
شعبًاa people إلىtoward التحريرliberation شمَّرgirded itself مسرعاhastening
شعبًا إلى التحرير شمَّر مسرعا
One free in conscience sang it, and it awakened
The free conscience sang it, awakening a nation
a people who girded themselves and hurried toward liberation.
That rolled up its sleeves, rushing toward liberation.
سمعheard الأصمُّthe deaf رنينَهاits ringing فعناso he yielded لهاto it
سمع الأصمُّ رنينَها فعنا لها
ورأىand saw بهاthrough it الأعمىthe blind الطريقَthe path الأنصعاthe clearest
ورأى بها الأعمى الطريقَ الأنصعا
The deaf heard its ringing and yielded to it,
The deaf heard its resonance and submitted,
and through it the blind saw the clearest path.
And through it, the blind saw the clearest path.
ودرىand learned الألىthose who جهلواdid not know الجزائرAlgeria أنهاthat it
ودرى الألى جهلوا الجزائر أنها
قالتsaid «أريدI will» فصمَّمتْso it resolved أنto تلمعاshine
قالت «أريد» فصمَّمتْ أن تلمعا
Those who had not known Algeria learned that it
Those ignorant of Algeria came to know
said “I will,” and resolved to shine.
That she spoke "I will," and resolved to shine.
ودرىand learned الأُلىthose who، جحدواdenied الجزائرAlgeria، أنهاthat it
ودرى الأُلى، جحدوا الجزائر، أنها
ثارتrose in revolt، وحكّمتand made arbiters of الدماblood والمدفعاand the cannon
ثارت، وحكّمت الدما والمدفعا
Those who had denied Algeria learned that it
Those who denied Algeria came to know
rose in revolt and made blood and cannon its arbiters.
She had risen, making blood and cannons the judge.
شقّتْcut طريقَthe path of مصيرهاits destiny بسلاحهاwith its weapons
شقّتْ طريقَ مصيرها بسلاحها
وأبتand refused بغيرwith less than المنتهىthe ultimate goal، أنto تقنعاbe content
وأبت بغير المنتهى، أن تقنعا
It cut the path of its destiny with its weapons,
She carved the path of her destiny with weapons,
and refused to settle for less than the ultimate goal.
Refusing to settle for anything less than the ultimate goal.
شعبٌa people دعاهcalled it إلىto الخلاصsalvation بُناتُهits builders
شعبٌ دعاه إلى الخلاص بُناتُه
فانصبَّso it poured forth مذas soon as سمعheard النداthe call وتطوَّعاand volunteered
فانصبَّ مذ سمع الندا وتطوَّعا
A people whose builders called them to salvation
A people called to salvation by their architects,
poured forth upon hearing the call and volunteered.
Who poured forth and volunteered the moment they heard the call.
نادىcalled بهto it جبريلُGabriel فيin سوقthe market of الفداself-sacrifice
نادى به جبريلُ في سوق الفدا
فشرىso it bought وباعand sold بنقدهاwith its currency وتبرَّعاand gave freely
فشرى وباع بنقدها وتبرَّعا
Gabriel called to them in the market of sacrifice,
Gabriel announced it in the marketplace of sacrifice;
so they bought and sold with its currency, and gave freely.
So they bought and sold with their lives, and gave freely.
فلكمhow often تصارعit wrestled والزمانand Time فلمyet did not يجدfind
فلكم تصارع والزمان فلم يجد
فيهin it الزمانُTime وقدand already توحّدhad united مطمعاan opening for greed
فيه الزمانُ وقد توحّد مطمعا
How often they wrestled with Time, yet it found
How often they wrestled with Time, yet Time found
no opening in them once they stood united.
No weakness to exploit once they stood united.
واستقبلَand faced الاحداثَevents منهاat them ساخرًاmocking
واستقبلَ الاحداثَ منها ساخرًا
كالشّامخاتlike towering peaks تمنُّعًاin defiance وترفُّعاand loftiness
كالشّامخات تمنُّعًا وترفُّعا
They faced events, mocking them,
They faced the events with mocking scorn,
like towering peaks, defiant and exalted.
Like towering mountains in their defiance and pride.
وأرادهand wanted it المستعمرونthe colonizers عناصرًاseparate elements
وأراده المستعمرون عناصرًا
فأبىbut it refused معwith التاريخhistory أنto يتصدَّعاsplinter
فأبى مع التاريخ أن يتصدَّعا
The colonizers wanted them to be separate elements,
The colonizers sought to shatter them into fragments,
but, with history beside them, they refused to splinter.
But they, with History, refused to crack.
واستضعفوهand deemed it weak فقررواso they decided إذلالهits humiliation
واستضعفوه فقرروا إذلاله
فأبتbut refused كرامتهits dignity لهfor it أنto يخضعاsubmit
فأبت كرامته له أن يخضعا
They deemed them weak and decided to humiliate them,
They deemed them weak and sought their humiliation,
but their dignity would not let them submit.
But their dignity forbade them to submit.
واستدرجوهand lured it، فدبرواso they plotted إدماجهits assimilation
واستدرجوه، فدبروا إدماجه
فأبتbut refused عروبتهits Arab identity لهfor it أنto يُبلعاbe swallowed
فأبت عروبته له أن يُبلعا
They lured them on and plotted their assimilation,
They lured them, plotting their assimilation,
but their Arab identity would not let them be swallowed.
But their Arab identity refused to be swallowed.
وعنand away from العقيدةthe faith زوّرواthey fabricated تحريفهits deviation
وعن العقيدة زوّروا تحريفه
فأبىbut it refused معwith الإيمانfaith أنto يتزعزعاwaver
فأبى مع الإيمان أن يتزعزعا
They fabricated their turning away from the faith,
They falsified and distorted their creed,
but, with faith, they refused to waver.
But with Faith, they refused to be shaken.
وتعمّدواand deliberately sought قطعto cut off الطريقthe road فلمbut did not تُرِدwish
وتعمّدوا قطع الطريق فلم تُرِد
أسبابهits bonds بالعربwith the Arabs أنto تتقطعاbe severed
أسبابه بالعرب أن تتقطعا
They deliberately blocked the way, but never did
They deliberately severed the path, yet their bonds
their bonds with the Arabs consent to be severed.
To the Arabs refused to be severed.
نسبٌa kinship بدنياwith the world of العربthe Arabs زكّىnurtured غرسَهits sapling
نسبٌ بدنيا العرب زكّى غرسَه
ألمٌpain، فأورقَso leafed دوحُهits great tree وتفرَّعاand branched
ألمٌ، فأورقَ دوحُه وتفرَّعا
A kinship with the Arab world, whose sapling was nurtured
A lineage in the Arab world, whose roots were watered
by pain, until its great tree leafed and branched.
By pain, until the great tree bloomed and branched.
سببٌa bond، بأوتارin the strings of القلوبhearts، عروقهits roots
سببٌ، بأوتار القلوب، عروقه
إنif رنّrings هذاthis one، رنّrings ذاكthat one، ورجّعاand echoes
إن رنّ هذا، رنّ ذاك، ورجّعا
A bond whose roots run through the heartstrings:
A bond whose veins run through the heartstrings:
if this one rings, that one rings and echoes.
If one resonates, the other rings out and echoes.
إماwhenever تنهَّدَsighs بالجزائرin Algeria موجعٌa sufferer
إما تنهَّدَ بالجزائر موجعٌ
آسىtended الشآمal-Sham جراحَهhis wounds وتوجَّعاand felt pain
آسى الشآم جراحَه وتوجَّعا
Whenever a sufferer sighs in Algeria,
If one in pain sighs within Algeria,
al-Sham tends his wounds and shares his pain.
The Levant tends to his wounds and shares the pain.
واهتزَّand stirred فيin أرضthe land of الكنانةKinana خافقٌa beating heart
واهتزَّ في أرض الكنانة خافقٌ
وأقضّand disturbed فيin أرضthe land of العراقIraq المضجعاrepose
وأقضّ في أرض العراق المضجعا
A beating heart stirred in the land of Kinana,
If a heart trembles in the land of Egypt,
and disturbed sleep in the land of Iraq.
It disturbs the slumber in the land of Iraq.
وارتجّand trembled فيin الخضراءthe Green land، شعبٌa people ماجدٌnoble
وارتجّ في الخضراء، شعبٌ ماجدٌ
لمdid not تثنهdeter it أرزاؤهits calamities أنfrom يفزعاrushing to aid
لم تثنه أرزاؤه أن يفزعا
In the Green land a noble people trembled,
And in Green Tunisia, a glorious people trembles,
whose calamities did not deter them from rushing to aid.
Undeterred by their own calamities from rushing to aid.
وهوتand rushed مراكشMarrakesh حولهaround him وتألمتand grieved
وهوت مراكش حوله وتألمت
لبُـنانLebanon، واسْتَعْدتْand summoned for aid جُدَيْسَJudays وتُبَّعاand Tubba!
لبُـنان، واسْتَعْدتْ جُدَيْسَ وتُبَّعا!
Marrakesh rushed around him, and anguish struck
Marrakech rallied around him, grieving for Lebanon,
Lebanon, which summoned Judays and Tubba to its aid!
Summoning the ancient spirits of Jadis and Tubba'.
تلكthat is العروبةArabism إنif تثِرyou stir أعصابَهاits nerves
تلك العروبة إن تثِر أعصابَها
وَهَنَweakened الزمانُTime حيالهاbefore it وتضعضعاand collapsed!!
وَهَنَ الزمانُ حيالها وتضعضعا!!
That is Arabism: if you stir its nerves,
Such is Arabism: if you provoke its nerve,
Time weakens before it and collapses!
Time itself weakens and crumbles before it!
الضّادthe letter ḍād، فيthrough الأجيالthe generations خَلَّدَimmortalized مجدهاits glory
الضّاد، في الأجيال خَلَّدَ مجدها
والجرحُand the wound وحَّدَunited فيin هواهاlove for it المنزعاthe purpose
والجرحُ وحَّدَ في هواها المنزعا
The letter ḍād immortalized its glory through the generations,
The Arabic tongue has immortalized her glory through the ages,
and the wound united their purpose in love for it.
And the wound has united all directions in her love.
فتماسكتso it held together بالشرقin the East جمهوريةًas a republic
فتماسكت بالشرق جمهوريةً
عربيةًArab وجدتfound بمصرin Egypt المرتعاthe pasture
عربيةً وجدت بمصر المرتعا
So it held together in the East as a republic,
Thus, an Arab Republic held firm in the East,
an Arab one, which found its pasture in Egypt.
Finding its stronghold within Egypt.
ولَـمصرُand indeed Egypt دارٌa home للعروبةfor Arabism، حرةٌfree
ولَـمصرُ دارٌ للعروبة، حرةٌ
تؤويshelters الكرامَthe noble، وتسندand supports المتطلِّعاthe aspirant
تؤوي الكرامَ، وتسند المتطلِّعا
Indeed, Egypt is a free home for Arabism,
For Egypt is a free home for Arabism,
sheltering the noble and supporting those who aspire.
Sheltering the noble and supporting the aspirant.
سحرتenchanted روائعهاher wonders المدائنthe cities عندماwhen
سحرت روائعها المدائن عندما
ألقىcast عصاهhis staff، بهاin it الكليمGod's interlocutor فروّعاso he inspired awe
ألقى عصاه، بها الكليم فروّعا
Her wonders enchanted the cities when
Her wonders enchanted the cities when
God's interlocutor cast his staff there, inspiring awe.
Moses cast his staff therein, striking awe.
وتحدّثُand spoke الهرمَthe pyramid الرهيبَawe-inspiring، مُباهيًاboasting
وتحدّثُ الهرمَ الرهيبَ، مُباهيًا
بجلالهاof her majesty الدنياthe world، فأنطقso made speak يُوشعاJoshua
بجلالها الدنيا، فأنطق يُوشعا
The awe-inspiring pyramid spoke, boasting
He conversed with the terrible Pyramid, boasting
of her majesty to the world, and made Joshua speak.
To the world of her majesty, making Joshua speak.
واللهُand God سطّرinscribed لوحَهاher tablet بيمينهwith His right hand
واللهُ سطّر لوحَها بيمينه
وبنهرهاand into her river سكبpoured الجمالbeauty فأبدعاso created wonders
وبنهرها سكب الجمال فأبدعا
God inscribed her tablet with His right hand,
God inscribed her tablet with His own right hand,
and poured beauty into her river, creating wonders.
And poured beauty into her river, creating a marvel.
النيلthe Nile فتّحopened wide للغريبto the stranger ذراعهits arm
النيل فتّح للغريب ذراعه
والشّعبand the people فتّحopened wide للشّقيقِto the brother، الأضلُعاthe ribs
والشّعب فتّح للشّقيقِ، الأضلُعا
The Nile opened its arm to the stranger,
The Nile opened its arms to the stranger,
and the people opened their ribs to their brother.
And the people opened their hearts to their brothers.
والجيشُand the army، طهرpurified بالقتالthrough battle، قنالهاher canal
والجيشُ، طهر بالقتال، قنالها
وand«جمالGamal» أعملput to work فيin حشاهاher entrails المبضعاthe scalpel
و«جمال» أعمل في حشاها المبضعا
The army cleansed her canal through battle,
The army purified her Canal through battle,
and Gamal set the scalpel to work in her entrails.
And Gamal skillfully wielded the scalpel within her.
والطّورand al-Tur أبكىmade weep منthose who تعوّدwere accustomed أنto يرىbeing seen
والطّور أبكى من تعوّد أن يرى
فيat حائطthe wall of المبكىweeping يسيلshedding الأدمعاtears
في حائط المبكى يسيل الأدمعا
Al-Tur made weep those accustomed to being seen
Mount Sinai brought tears to those accustomed
at the Wailing Wall shedding tears.
To shedding tears at the Wailing Wall.
والسدُّand the dam سَدَّblocked علىagainst اللئامthe scoundrels منافذًاpassageways
والسدُّ سَدَّ على اللئام منافذًا
وأزاحand removed عنfrom وجهthe face of الذئابthe wolves البُرقُعاthe veil
وأزاح عن وجه الذئاب البُرقُعا
The dam blocked the scoundrels' passageways,
The High Dam blocked the paths of the wicked,
and stripped the veil from the wolves' faces.
And tore the veil from the faces of wolves.
وتعلمand learned «التاميزthe Thames» عنfrom أبنائهاher sons
وتعلم «التاميز» عن أبنائها
«والسينand the Seine» درساًa lesson فيin السياسةpolitics مقنعاconvincing
«والسين» درساً في السياسة مقنعا
The Thames learned from her sons—
The Thames learned from her sons,
and the Seine—a convincing lesson in politics.
And the Seine, a convincing lesson in politics.
وتعلمand learned المستعمرونthe colonizers حقيقةًa truth
وتعلم المستعمرون حقيقةً
تبقىremains لمنfor whoever جهلdid not know العروبةArabism مرجعاa reference
تبقى لمن جهل العروبة مرجعا
The colonizers learned a truth
And the colonizers learned a truth
that remains a reference for those ignorant of Arabism.
That remains a reference for those ignorant of Arabism.
دنياthe world of العروبةArabism لاdoes not ترجحُfavor جانبًاa side
دنيا العروبة لا ترجحُ جانبًا
فيamong الكتلتينthe two blocs، ولاand does not تفضّلُprefer موضعاa position
في الكتلتين، ولا تفضّلُ موضعا
The Arab world favors neither side
The Arab world tilts not to one side
of the two blocs, nor prefers either position.
Between the two blocs, nor favors one stance.
للشّرقthe East has، فيin هذاthis الوجودexistence رسالةٌa message
للشّرق، في هذا الوجود رسالةٌ
عَلْماءenlightened (uncertain form)، صدّقbelieved وحيهاits revelation فتجمَّعاso united
عَلْماء، صدّق وحيها فتجمَّعا
The East has a message in this existence,
The East bears a lofty message in this existence;
enlightened: it believed its revelation and united.
It believed in its revelation, and thus united.
ياO مصرُEgypt! ياO أختَsister of الجزائرAlgeria فيin الهوىlove!
يا مصرُ! يا أختَ الجزائر في الهوى!
لكfor you فيin الجزائرAlgeria حرمةsanctity لنnever will تُقطعاbe severed!
لك في الجزائر حرمة لن تُقطعا!
O Egypt! O Algeria's sister in love!
O Egypt! O sister of Algeria in passion!
You have a sacred bond in Algeria that will never be severed!
You hold a sacred bond in Algeria that shall never be severed!
هذيthese خواطرthoughts شاعرٍof a poet، غنّىsang بهاof them
هذي خواطر شاعرٍ، غنّى بها
فيin الثورةthe revolution الكبرىgreat فقالso he spoke وأسمعاand made himself heard
في الثورة الكبرى فقال وأسمعا
These are a poet's thoughts, which he sang
These are the thoughts of a poet who sang them
in the great revolution, speaking and making himself heard;
During the Great Revolution, speaking for all to hear.
وتشوقاتٌand yearnings، منfrom حبيسٍa prisoner موثقٍshackled
وتشوقاتٌ، من حبيسٍ موثقٍ
ماnot انفكَّceased صبّاًa passionate lover، بالكنانةًwith Kinana مولعاenamored
ما انفكَّ صبّاً، بالكنانةً مولعا
and yearnings from a shackled prisoner,
And yearnings from a bound prisoner,
ever a passionate lover, enamored of Kinana.
Who remains a lover, devoted to the land of Egypt.
خلُصتwere sincere قصائدهhis poems، فماand did not عرفknow البكاweeping
خلُصت قصائده، فما عرف البكا
يوماًever، ولاnor ندبَlamented الحِمىthe homeland والمربعاand the campsite
يوماً، ولا ندبَ الحِمى والمربعا
His poems were sincere; he never knew weeping
His poems were pure; he knew not how to weep,
on any day, nor lamented the homeland and the campsite.
Nor how to mourn over ruins and lost homes.
إنif تدعُهcall him الأوطانُthe homelands، كانhe was لسانَهاtheir tongue
إن تدعُه الأوطانُ، كان لسانَها
أوor تدعهcall him الجلّىa grave calamity، أجابhe answered وأسرعاand hastened
أو تدعه الجلّى، أجاب وأسرعا
If the homelands called him, he was their tongue;
If the homelands call, he becomes their voice;
or if a grave calamity called him, he answered and hastened.
If calamity calls, he answers with haste.
سمعheard الذبيحthe slaughtered man ببربروسَat Barberousse فأيقظتْso awakened
سمع الذبيح ببربروسَ فأيقظتْ
صرخاتهhis cries، شعرthe poetry of الخلودimmortality فلعلعاso it rang out
صرخاته، شعر الخلود فلعلعا
He heard the slaughtered man at Barberousse; awakened
He heard the martyr in Barbarossa, and his screams
by his cries, the poetry of immortality rang out.
Awoke the poetry of eternity, which thundered aloud.
ورآهand saw him كبّرproclaim “God is great” للصّلاةfor prayer، مهللاًproclaiming God's oneness
ورآه كبّر للصّلاة، مهللاً
فيin مذبحthe slaughterhouse of الشهداthe martyrs فقامso he rose مسمِّعاmaking himself heard
في مذبح الشهدا فقام مسمِّعا
He saw him proclaim “God is great” for prayer, declaring God's oneness,
He saw him chanting "God is Great" for prayer,
in the martyrs' slaughterhouse; then he rose to make himself heard.
At the altar of martyrs, his voice rising clear.
ورأىand saw القنابلَthe bombs كالصواعقlike thunderbolts إنwhen هوتْthey fell
ورأى القنابلَ كالصواعق إن هوتْ
تركتleft حصونthe fortresses of ذويpossessors of المطامعgreedy ambitions بلقعاa barren waste
تركت حصون ذوي المطامع بلقعا
He saw the bombs: like thunderbolts, when they fell,
He saw bombs falling like thunderbolts,
they left the fortresses of the covetous a barren waste.
Leaving the fortresses of the greedy as barren wastelands.
ورأىand saw الجزائرAlgeria، بعدafter طولthe length of عنائهاits suffering
ورأى الجزائر، بعد طول عنائها
سلكتtook بثورتهاthrough its revolution السبيلthe path الأنفعاthe most beneficial
سلكت بثورتها السبيل الأنفعا
He saw Algeria, after its long suffering,
And he saw Algeria, after her long suffering,
had taken, through its revolution, the most beneficial path.
Taking the most righteous path through her revolution.
وطنٌa homeland يعزُّstands mighty علىin البقاءendurance وماand has not انقضىpassed away
وطنٌ يعزُّ على البقاء وما انقضى
رغمdespite البلاءaffliction، عنagainst البلىdecay، متمنِّعاresisting
رغم البلاء، عن البلى، متمنِّعا
A homeland mighty in endurance, which has not passed away,
A homeland too proud to perish,
despite affliction, resisting decay.
Refusing decay despite the weight of affliction.
لمdid not يرضَaccept يوماًever بالوثاقbondage، ولمand did not يزلْcease
لم يرضَ يوماً بالوثاق، ولم يزلْ
متشامخاًtowering proudly مهماhowever النكالpunishment تنوَّعاvaried
متشامخاً مهما النكال تنوَّعا
It never accepted bondage, and still stands
It never accepted shackles, and remained
towering proudly, however varied the punishment.
Towering high, no matter the torture inflicted.
هذيthese الجبالُmountains الشاهقاتlofty شواهدٌwitnesses
هذي الجبالُ الشاهقات شواهدٌ
سخرتmocked بمنat those who مسخdistorted الحقائقthe truths وادعىand made claims
سخرت بمن مسخ الحقائق وادعى
These lofty mountains are witnesses,
These towering mountains are witnesses,
mocking those who distorted truths and made claims.
Mocking those who distorted facts and made false claims.
سَلْask «جرجراDjurdjura» تنبئكit will tell you عنof غضباتهاits outbursts of wrath
سَلْ «جرجرا» تنبئك عن غضباتها
واستفتand consult «شلياChélia» لحظةًfor a moment وand «شلعلعاShalalaa»
واستفت «شليا» لحظةً و «شلعلعا»
Ask Djurdjura: it will tell you of its outbursts of wrath;
Ask Djurdjura, it will tell you of its wrath;
consult Chélia a moment, and Shalalaa.
Seek the verdict of Chelia and Chalaala for a moment.
واخشعand bow in awe بـat «وارشنيسWarshenis» إنfor indeed ترابهاits earth
واخشع بـ «وارشنيس» إن ترابها
ماnot انفكceased للجندfor the troops المعطرperfumed مصرعاa killing ground
ما انفك للجند المعطر مصرعا
Bow in awe at Warshenis, for its earth
Stand in awe at Ouarsenis, for its soil
has never ceased to be a killing ground for the perfumed troops.
Remains a graveyard for the perfumed legions.
كسرتbroke «تلمسانTlemcen» الضليعةُmighty ضلعَهhis rib
كسرت «تلمسان» الضليعةُ ضلعَه
ووهىand weakened «بصبرةat Sabra» صبرهhis patience فتوزَّعاso he scattered
ووهى «بصبرة» صبره فتوزَّعا
Mighty Tlemcen broke his rib,
Stalwart Tlemcen shattered their ribs,
and at Sabra his patience waned, and he fell apart.
And in Sabra, their patience broke and scattered.
ودعاهand called him «مسعودMasoud» فأدبرso he turned back، عندماwhen
ودعاه «مسعود» فأدبر، عندما
لاقاهmet him «طارقTariq» سافراًunveiled ومقنّعاand masked
لاقاه «طارق» سافراً ومقنّعا
Masoud called him, and he turned back when
Messaoud called him and he fled, when
Tariq met him, unveiled and masked.
Tariq met him, both masked and unveiled.
اللهGod فجّرmade gush forth خلدهHis paradise برمالناin our sands
الله فجّر خلده برمالنا
وأقامand stationed عزرائيلAzrael يحميto guard المنبعاthe spring!!
وأقام عزرائيل يحمي المنبعا!!
God made His paradise gush forth in our sands,
God burst forth His bounty in our sands,
and stationed Azrael to guard the spring!
And stationed Azrael to guard the wellspring!
تلكthat is الجزائرAlgeria تصنعforges استقلالهاits independence
تلك الجزائر تصنع استقلالها
تَخِذَتْtook لهاfor itself، مُهَجَthe lifeblood of الضحّاياthe victims، مصنعاas a factory
تَخِذَتْ لها، مُهَجَ الضحّايا، مصنعا
That is Algeria, forging its independence;
That is Algeria, forging her independence;
it took the victims' lifeblood as its factory.
She made the souls of martyrs her factory.
طاشتwent astray بهاwith it الطرقاتthe roads، فاختصرتso it took a shortcut لهاfor itself
طاشت بها الطرقات، فاختصرت لها
نهجthe path of المناياdeaths للسيادةto sovereignty مَهْيَعاa broad highway
نهج المنايا للسيادة مَهْيَعا
The roads led it astray, so it took a shortcut:
The paths were confusing, so she chose the shortcut:
death's path, a broad highway to sovereignty.
The road of death leading straight to sovereignty.
وامتصّهاand sucked it dry المتزعمونthe would-be leaders، فأصبحتso it became
وامتصّها المتزعمون، فأصبحت
شِلواًa carcass، بأنيابby the fangs of الذئابwolves ممزّعاtorn apart
شِلواً، بأنياب الذئاب ممزّعا
The would-be leaders sucked it dry, and it became
The exploiters drained her until she became
a carcass torn apart by the wolves' fangs.
A torn limb, shredded by the fangs of wolves.
وإذاand if السّياسةpolitics لمdoes not تفوّضْentrust أمرَهاits affairs
وإذا السّياسة لم تفوّضْ أمرَها
للنارto fire، كانتit was خدعةًa deception، وتصنُّعاand pretense
للنار، كانت خدعةً، وتصنُّعا
If politics does not entrust its affairs
If politics does not surrender its command
to fire, it is deceit and pretense.
To fire, it remains but a deception and a sham.
إنيindeed I رأيتsaw الكونَthe universe يسجدُprostrating خاشعاًhumbly
إني رأيت الكونَ يسجدُ خاشعاً
للحقbefore truth والرشاشand the machine gun، إنif نطقاthey speak معاtogether!
للحق والرشاش، إن نطقا معا!
I saw the universe prostrate itself humbly
I have seen the universe bow in reverence
before truth and the machine gun, when they speak together!
To Truth and the Machine Gun, when they speak as one!
خبّرtell فرنساFrance، ياO زمانُTime بأنناthat we
خبّر فرنسا، يا زمانُ بأننا
هيهاتfar from possible فيover استقلالناour independence أنto نُخدعاbe deceived
هيهات في استقلالنا أن نُخدعا
Tell France, O Time, that we
Tell France, O Time, that never again
shall never be duped over our independence.
Shall we be deceived regarding our independence.
واستفتِand consult ياO ديغولُde Gaulle شعبَكyour people، إنهindeed it is
واستفتِ يا ديغولُ شعبَك، إنه
حكمjudged الزمانُTime، فماso what عسىmight أنto تصنعاyou do؟
حكم الزمانُ، فما عسى أن تصنعا؟
Consult your people, O de Gaulle: indeed,
Ask your people for a verdict, O De Gaulle;
Time has judged, so what can you possibly do?
It is Time's judgment—what can you possibly do?
شعبُthe people of الجزائرAlgeria قالsaid فيin استفتائهtheir referendum
شعبُ الجزائر قال في استفتائه
لاno!! لنwill never أبيحI yield منof الجزائرAlgeria إصبعاa finger's breadth
لا!! لن أبيح من الجزائر إصبعا
The people of Algeria said in their referendum:
The people of Algeria have spoken in their vote:
“No! Never shall I yield a finger's breadth of Algeria!”
"No! I shall not yield a single inch of Algeria!"
واختارand chose يومَthe day of الاقتراعvoting نفمبراًNovember
واختار يومَ الاقتراع نفمبراً
فمضىso it went forward، وصمّمand resolved أنto يثورrevolt، ويقرعاand strike
فمضى، وصمّم أن يثور، ويقرعا
They chose November as their polling day,
They chose November as the day of decision,
then went forward and resolved to revolt and strike.
Moving forward, resolved to revolt and strike.