نِعمَ الهديَّةُ يَهتدي السَّاري بها

نِعمَ الهديَّةُ يَهتدي السَّاري بها

فقد التَقَتْ فيها الهديَّةُ والهُدَى

فقد التَقَتْ فيها الهديَّةُ والهُدَى

How excellent the gift by which the night traveler finds his way!

What a fine gift: by it the night traveler finds his way.

For in it, gift and guidance have come together.

For gift and guidance have come together within it.

قامتْ بمصلحةٍ لطالبِها كمَنْ

قامتْ بمصلحةٍ لطالبِها كمَنْ

تُهدَى إليه كِلاهمُا يُروي الصَّدَى

تُهدَى إليه كِلاهمُا يُروي الصَّدَى

It fulfills a need for the one who seeks it, like one to whom

It has served a useful purpose for its seeker, like the one

it is given: its words quench thirst.

to whom it is given; both quench thirst.

هذا فؤادُ المُلكِ صَدْرُ رِجالهِ

هذا فؤادُ المُلكِ صَدْرُ رِجالهِ

والصَّدرُ أهلٌ للفؤادِ فما اعتدَى

والصَّدرُ أهلٌ للفؤادِ فما اعتدَى

This is Fuʾād, the heart of the realm, the foremost of its men;

This is Fuad, the heart of the realm, foremost among its men;

and the breast is fit for the heart—so the description does not overstep.

and the breast is worthy of the heart, so he has not overstepped.

وعلى رُبَى لبنانَ منهُ نِعمةٌ

وعلى رُبَى لبنانَ منهُ نِعمةٌ

يَبقَى لها ذِكرٌ على طول المَدَى

يَبقَى لها ذِكرٌ على طول المَدَى

And upon Lebanon’s hills there is a blessing from him;

And upon Lebanon’s hills is a blessing from him

its renown shall endure through time’s whole span.

whose remembrance will endure for all time.

ألقى عليهِ الله سابغَ ظِلِّهِ

ألقى عليهِ الله سابغَ ظِلِّهِ

وحماهُ من كيدِ النَّوائِبِ والعِدَى

وحماهُ من كيدِ النَّوائِبِ والعِدَى

May God cast His ample shade over him

May God cast His ample shade over him

and shield him from the guile of calamities and foes.

and protect him from the guile of calamities and foes.