شكا العُودُ بالأوتار شجوا فأطربا

شكا العُودُ بالأوتار شجوا فأطربا

وتَرْجَمَ عن معنى الضمير فأَعْرَبا

وتَرْجَمَ عن معنى الضمير فأَعْرَبا

The oud lamented its sorrow through its strings, stirring rapture.

The lute complained to the strings with yearning, so they were enraptured,

And gave voice to the heart's meaning, expressing it clearly.

And translated the meaning of the conscience, so they were eloquent.

فم أَرَ شَاكٍ مثلَه بثَّ شجوَه

فم أَرَ شَاكٍ مثلَه بثَّ شجوَه

فأفرحَ محزوناً وفكّ مُعَذَّبا

فأفرحَ محزوناً وفكّ مُعَذَّبا

So I have never seen a lamenter like it pour out its sorrow,

My mouth has not seen one who complains like it, spreading its lament,

And so gladden the sorrowful and free the tormented.

To gladden the sorrowful and release the tortured.

خُذي الكَأسَ يا مظلومة الخَدِّ مُتْرعاً

خُذي الكَأسَ يا مظلومة الخَدِّ مُتْرعاً

ومُدي به نحوي بَنَاناً مُخْضَّبا

ومُدي به نحوي بَنَاناً مُخْضَّبا

Take the brimming cup, O you whose cheek is wronged,

Take the cup, O downtrodden of cheek, drawing sustenance,

And stretch your dyed fingertips toward me with it.

And bring it to me, your structure bloodied.

فإنّي سبقتُ الدهر للمَجد والعُلا

فإنّي سبقتُ الدهر للمَجد والعُلا

وسُدْتُ جميعَ الناس شَرْقا ومَغْربا

وسُدْتُ جميعَ الناس شَرْقا ومَغْربا

For I have outstripped time toward glory and eminence,

For I have outstripped Time in glory and supremacy,

And become master of all people, east and west.

And surpassed all people, East and West.

وما ذاك إلاّ أنّني بسعادتي

وما ذاك إلاّ أنّني بسعادتي

غدوتُ قريباً من مَعَدٍّ مُقَرَّبا

غدوتُ قريباً من مَعَدٍّ مُقَرَّبا

And that is only because, through my good fortune,

That is only because, with my happiness,

I have become close to Maʿadd, drawn into his favor.

I have become close to the All-Merciful, brought near.

عِذابٌ كماء الغَيْثِ عذْبٌ مَذَاقُه

عِذابٌ كماء الغَيْثِ عذْبٌ مَذَاقُه

وتارك ما لاقاه ريَّانَ مُعْشبا

وتارك ما لاقاه ريَّانَ مُعْشبا

Sweet as rainwater, sweet to the taste,

Torture is the water of rain in taste, sweetness its savor,

And leaving whatever he meets well-watered and lush with grass.

Leaving what it touches irrigated, greened.