1. لله مشرق منزلٍ ما زارهْ

    من زايرٍ الاّ جلا اكدارَهْ

    How radiant a dwelling! No one has visited it

    but it has dispelled that visitor's troubles.

  2. وارتاض نفساً في مقام ربه

    في حسنه الباهي الجمال انارَهْ

    And he grew refined in spirit in its master's abode;

    beauty illumined it with resplendent loveliness.

  3. فازداد ظرفاً فايقاً ومحاسناً

    بالانس أزهت ليلهُ ونهارَهْ

    So it gained surpassing elegance and charms

    that, with convivial joy, brightened its nights and days.

  4. فحماه برج شاد للأسد الذي

    رب الأنام مدى الزمان أجارَهْ

    Its precinct is a tower built for the lion whom

    the Lord of all creatures has sheltered throughout time.

  5. كم من شموس مع بدور أشرقت

    فيه وكم من انجم نوَّارَهْ

    How many suns, with full moons, have shone

    within it, and how many radiant stars!

  6. ولكم به للعز افلاكٌ تدو

    م ثوابتاً وكواكبٌ سياَّرَهْ

    And how many spheres of glory endure within it,

    fixed stars and wandering planets!

  7. بوطيد سودده الرسوخ دلايلٌ

    وإلى دوام العز فيه اشارَهْ

    There are proofs of how firmly rooted his eminence is,

    and in it a sign that glory will endure.

  8. إذ أن ذاك الخازنّي مشيده

    في حسن صنع الخير مدَّ عمارَهْ

    For that al-Khazini is its builder,

    who extended its construction through the fine practice of goodness.

  9. متهذّبٌ طابت مآثرهُ وقد

    أعلى المهيمن في الورى مقدارَهْ

    A cultivated man whose noble deeds are gracious; indeed,

    the Guardian has exalted his standing among mankind.

  10. ما امّ ساحة فضلهِ من قاصدٍ

    يرجو بان يحظى بنعم بشارَهْ

    No seeker has come to the courtyard of his bounty,

    hoping to enjoy Bishara's favors,

  11. الا انثنى بالمدح ابلغ شاعرٍ

    ينشي ويبدع محكماً اشعارَهْ

    without returning a most eloquent poet of praise,

    composing and creating his finely wrought verses.

  12. افديه من حُرّ كريمٍ جلّ مَن

    في الدهر جمل بالبها اطوارَهْ

    I would ransom him, a noble, generous man! Exalted is He who

    has adorned his ways with splendor throughout time,

  13. وكساه أثواب الاهابة في الورى

    وازاد بين العالمين وقارَهْ

    clothed him in garments of awe among mankind,

    and increased his dignity among all peoples.

  14. شيخ بفطنته الزكّية قد سما

    وعَلا على كل الشيوخ صدارَهْ

    A sheikh who has risen through his pure discernment,

    and surpassed all sheikhs in precedence.

  15. ورقى مقاماً في الكمال مفوّقاً

    زاد الاله على الدوام فخارَهْ

    He rose to a surpassing station of perfection;

    may God forever increase his glory.

  16. مولى لطامي الجود بات مجمّعاً

    ومفرقاً من راحيته بحارَهْ

    A lord who has gathered the surging flood of generosity,

    and scatters its seas from his palms.

  17. ذاعت مآثر بره مذ كفه

    ضاهى السحاب وقد حكى امطارَهْ

    His deeds of kindness spread abroad, since his hand

    rivaled the clouds and echoed their rainfall.

  18. فزكا الثنا عنهُ فكم من نشره

    احيى فتّى مستنشقاً معطارَهْ

    Thus praise of him flourished; how often its fragrance

    revived a youth inhaling its perfume!

  19. عرب الورى كم أعربت في مدحهِ

    قولاً فصيحاً واعتنت اشهارَهْ

    The Arabs of the world—how often they have voiced in his praise

    eloquent speech, taking care to proclaim it!

  20. والترك قد وافى يقر بعجزه

    ويذيع ما بين الورى اقدارَهْ

    And al-Turk has come, acknowledging his inadequacy,

    and proclaiming his worth among mankind.

  21. يرجو السماح عن القصور فان اخ

    لاق الكريم صفوحةٌ غفاَّرَهْ

    He hopes for pardon for his shortcomings, for the character

    of a generous man is indulgent and forgiving.

  22. ويفي الدعا ابداً وان يَكُ قاصراً

    في كل محكم جملةٍ وعبارَهْ

    He faithfully offers prayers forever, though he falls short

    in every well-crafted sentence and phrase.

  23. ويهيم في مدح البشارة ملهجاً

    في كل آنٍ لهجة كرارَهْ

    He is enraptured with Bishara's praise, ever voicing it

    at every moment, in an oft-repeated refrain.

  24. يعلى الندا للخازني أبي الندى

    يا رب شيّد في المفاخر دارَهْ

    He raises his call to al-Khazini, father of generosity:

    O Lord, raise his house among the glories!

  25. انعم علينا أن نرى يا رب من

    ذا الاصل فرعاً نجتني أثمارَهْ

    Grant us, O Lord, the favor of seeing, from

    this root, a branch whose fruits we may gather;

  26. ونرى فروع فروعه مُخضلَّةً

    واطِل على طول المدى أعمارَهْ

    and let us see the branches of his branches lush and green,

    and prolong their lives for all the span of time,

  27. ما رقّص الغصن النسيم بسريه

    سحراً وهّيج للغنا أطيارَهْ

    as long as the breeze, in its night passage, makes the bough dance

    before dawn, and stirs its birds to song;

  28. وتبلّج الصبح المنير وأشرقت

    شمسٌ وما أبدى الضحى أنوارَهْ

    and radiant morning breaks, and there shines

    a sun, and as long as forenoon reveals its lights.