1. هو المجد فاطلبه وإن عز طالبه

    وجد وإن ضاقت عليه مذاهبه

    It is glory—seek it, though its seekers be few,

    and strive, though the paths before its seeker grow narrow.

  2. وسارع إلى تشييد أركانه فلا

    قرار لنا والعدل هدت جوانبه

    And hasten to raise its pillars, for there is no

    rest for us while justice’s sides lie shattered.

  3. ولا تتبع قول أمرئ كل همه

    غداء شهي أو كعاب تلاعبه

    Do not heed the words of a man whose sole concern is

    a delicious meal or a full-breasted maiden who dallies with him.

  4. فيصبح في ضيم ويمسي بذلة

    مخافة أن ينأى عليه حبائبه

    So he spends his mornings oppressed and his evenings abased,

    for fear that those he loves may grow distant from him.

  5. فلا خير في هذا وإن للهدى ادَّعى

    أليس الهدى إيثار ما أنا طالبه

    There is no good in such a man, though he claims guidance.

    Is not guidance preferring what I seek?

  6. أليس الهدى إيثار سنة أحمد

    أما بزغت في المجد شمسا مناقبه

    Is not guidance preferring the way of Ahmad?

    Have his virtues not risen as a sun in glory?

  7. أما شيد العلياء حتى بنى لها

    من العز بيتا ساميات مناصبه

    Did he not build up greatness, until he built for it

    a house of honor whose pillars soar high?

  8. وقد سلك الصحب الكرام سبيله

    وجانب عنه ضلة من يجانبه

    And the noble Companions have followed his path,

    while whoever shuns him has turned from it in error.

  9. وإن أباك الذمر لا شك أنه

    على مفرق الجوزاء شيدت مراتبه

    And your valiant father—there is no doubt that

    his ranks were raised upon the crown of al-Jawza.

  10. وكان على ما قد رأيت من العلى

    ومثلك لا تخفى عليه مناقبه

    He stood at the heights you yourself have seen,

    and his virtues are no secret to one like you.

  11. أليس سبيل العز أولى بذي النهى

    وإن كدرت للواردين مشاربه

    Is not the path of honor more fitting for one endowed with reason,

    though its waters are turbid for those who come to drink?

  12. وإن جنان الخلد حفت بمكره الن

    نفوس ودون الخير تبدو متاعبه

    And the gardens of eternity are ringed with what the

    souls abhor; before goodness lie its hardships.

  13. ومن تحت ظل السيف فالتمس البقا

    إذا حكّمته في المعادي مضاربه

    And beneath the sword’s shadow, seek lasting life,

    when its cutting edges make it arbiter over the foe.

  14. ولا جبن إلا أن تولي هاربا

    ولا بأس إن لم يجرع الصبر ناسبه

    There is no cowardice but to turn and flee,

    and no valor if its claimant will not swallow bitter aloe.

  15. وأنت إذا فكرت أيقنت أنه

    بخوض المنايا يدرك العز خاطبه

    And if you reflect, you will be certain that

    honor’s suitor wins it by plunging into deadly perils.

  16. وإن سلوك الذل للمرء فاضح

    إذا ما عزيز النفس طابت عواقبه

    Pursuing abasement is indeed disgraceful for a man,

    when the self-respecting man’s outcomes prove good.

  17. ألا فاتخذ أعلى الأمور شهامة

    وخلف حليف العجز مع ما يراقبه

    Come, choose the loftiest deeds with noble courage,

    and leave weakness’s ally with whatever he watches for.

  18. وقم للعلى إن العلى ليس ترتضي

    سواك إماما للمعالي تخاطبه

    Rise for the heights, for the heights will not accept

    anyone but you as the leader they call to noble deeds.

  19. وكن لمريد الظلم من أعظم البلا

    إذا نشبت في المسلمين مخالبه

    Be among the greatest afflictions to one intent on oppression,

    when his claws sink into the Muslims.

  20. ولا تخش منه بطشه إن كيده

    ضعيف وإن جلت لديهم معاطبه

    Do not fear his violence, for his scheming is

    weak, though its deadly perils loom large in their eyes.

  21. وما حاذر العجاز حي تذللوا

    سوى كأس ماء الحين والكل شاربه

    And the weaklings—a people who abased themselves—feared nothing

    but a cup of death’s water—and everyone must drink it.

  22. ومن كان ذا علم بأن إلهه

    ولي أمور الخلق هانت مصائبه

    And whoever knows that his God is

    the guardian of creation’s affairs finds his misfortunes light.

  23. وخل مداراة الرجال فإنها

    هوان على من عز في الله جانبه

    Leave off placating men, for it is

    humiliation for one whose strength is upheld by God.

  24. وقل لأسير الضيم لقيت عزة

    حنانيك إن البأس يرفع صاحبه

    Tell the captive of oppression, “May you find honor!

    I implore you: valor exalts its possessor.”

  25. وإن فتى لم يطلب المجد عمره

    فقد خسر المسعى وضلت مطالبه

    And if a youth has never sought glory in his life,

    then his striving is lost, and his aims have gone astray.

  26. فهل مبلغ عني بني المجد إنني

    على العهد لا أنفك عما أطالبه

    Will someone tell the sons of glory on my behalf that I

    stand by the pledge, never abandoning what I seek,

  27. وإن صوبت نحوي الليالي سهامها

    ودق عظامي من زماني نوائبه

    even if the nights aim their arrows at me,

    and my time’s calamities shatter my bones?