لَئِن وَهى عِقدُ السَحابِ الثَمين

لَئِن وَهى عِقدُ السَحابِ الثَمين

فَلا عَدا رَبعَكِ يا مارِدين

فَلا عَدا رَبعَكِ يا مارِدين

Should the clouds’ precious necklace come undone,

If the precious necklace of clouds should break,

may it not bypass your abode, O Mardin.

None but your quarter would mend it, O maidens fair!

مَدينَةٌ لَم تَرَ في جَوِّها

مَدينَةٌ لَم تَرَ في جَوِّها

جَوراً وَلا في أَهلِها مارِدين

جَوراً وَلا في أَهلِها مارِدين

A city in whose air you have not seen

A city where no injustice dwells,

injustice, nor rebels among its people.

Nor among its people sinners dare.

كَم شاهَدَت عَينايَ مِن أَهلِها

كَم شاهَدَت عَينايَ مِن أَهلِها

إِظهارَ مَعروفٍ وَإِضمارَ دين

إِظهارَ مَعروفٍ وَإِضمارَ دين

How often my eyes have witnessed among its people

How oft have my eyes seen among its folk

kindness openly shown and faith inwardly held.

Beneficence shown and faith laid bare.

أَفاضِلٌ في غَيِّهِم ما رَدوا

أَفاضِلٌ في غَيِّهِم ما رَدوا

وَنِسوَةٌ في مِثلِهِ ما رَدين

وَنِسوَةٌ في مِثلِهِ ما رَدين

Noble men who have not fallen to ruin in their error,

Noble men who reject not those astray,

and women who have not fallen to ruin in the like.

And virtuous women who no suitor dare.