نعمyes إنْif سخاwas generous دهريmy fortune وجادand gave freely أجدتُI excelled فيin
نعم إنْ سخا دهري وجاد أجدتُ في
مديحيmy praise of إسماعيلIsmail نخبةthe choicest of أمجادِillustrious men
مديحي إسماعيل نخبة أمجادِ
Yes, if my fortune is generous and bountiful, I excel in
Yes, though my days have been ungenerous, I found
my praise of Ismail, the choicest of the illustrious:
In praising Isma'il a choice of glories won.
أباfather of العربِthe Arabs عمَّuncle of المسعداتِthe bringers of joy أخاbrother of الحياrain
أبا العربِ عمَّ المسعداتِ أخا الحيا
حليفَally of الندىgenerosity; dew مولىlord of الجدىbounty شرفَglory of الناديthe assembly
حليفَ الندى مولى الجدى شرفَ النادي
father of the Arabs, uncle to the bringers of joy, brother to rain,
O father of the Arabs, blessing on your life!
ally of generosity, lord of bounty, glory of the assembly;
O brother of the living, ally of joy and right,
سليلُscion of المواليthe lords حائزٌpossessor of كلevery مفخرdistinction
سليلُ الموالي حائزٌ كل مفخر
جليلُexalted in المعاليnoble attainments منتهىultimate goal of كلevery مُرتادseeker
جليلُ المعالي منتهى كل مُرتاد
scion of lords, possessor of every distinction,
Scion of loyalty, endowed with every boast,
exalted in noble attainments, the ultimate goal of every seeker;
Exalted in your fame, goal of each seeker's sight,
عزيزُmighty لهto him التقديمُprecedence فيin شِرعةِthe law of العلاeminence
عزيزُ له التقديمُ في شِرعةِ العلا
بهhim as an example يَقتدىfollow طُلابseekers of هدىًguidance ورشادِand right conduct
به يَقتدى طُلاب هدىً ورشادِ
mighty, with precedence his under the law of eminence—
Dear in the law's first place; by you true votaries
seekers of guidance and right conduct follow his example.
Of guidance model their devotions day and night.
سماrose high رتباًranks فيin العدلjustice منfrom دونهاbeneath them السهاal-Suha, a star
سما رتباً في العدل من دونها السها
فمنso whoever رامهاseeks them صلَّapparently ‘strayed’ (ضلَّ) الطريقَthe path ولاand no هادىguide
فمن رامها صلَّ الطريقَ ولا هادى
He soared to ranks in justice beneath which lies al-Suha;
You scaled the heights of justice, while beneath its stars
whoever seeks them loses the path, with no guide.
Men wander, having missed the path without a light.
وإنَّاand indeed we لنرجوwe surely hope for فوقbeyond ذلكthat مظهراًa manifestation
وإنَّا لنرجو فوق ذلك مظهراً
لعليائهof his eminence دامmay remain السعودُgood fortunes لهfor him حاديa singing camel-driver
لعليائه دام السعودُ له حادي
And we indeed hope for a still higher manifestation
And yet we hope to see your high estate become
of his eminence—may good fortune ever be his singing guide.
While Sa'ud's fair rule endures, still more bedight
وتوفيقُهand his Tawfiq (‘his success’) ربُّmaster of المعاليlofty honors رفيقُهhis companion
وتوفيقُه ربُّ المعالي رفيقُه
لهfor him صوبtoward عهدِthe pledge of الملكkingship أكملthe fullest إسعادgood fortune
له صوب عهدِ الملك أكمل إسعاد
And his Tawfiq, master of lofty honors, his companion—
With fortune, and the Lord of Glory be your aid
may the fullest good fortune be his toward the pledge of kingship.
Beside this pact the king brought to consummate height.