سقى اللَه مصراً خفّ أهلوهُ من مصر

سقى اللَه مصراً خفّ أهلوهُ من مصر

وماذا الذي يبقى على عقَبِ الدهر

وماذا الذي يبقى على عقَبِ الدهر

May God water a city whose people have departed from it.

God watered Egypt, its people left it lightly

And what is there that remains in time's wake?

And what remains throughout time?

ولو كنتُ فيه إذ أبيح حريمُهُ

ولو كنتُ فيه إذ أبيح حريمُهُ

لمُتُّ كريماً أو صدرتُ على عُذرِ

لمُتُّ كريماً أو صدرتُ على عُذرِ

And had I been there when its sanctuary was violated,

Had I been there when its sanctuary was violated

I would have died honorably, or withdrawn with a valid excuse.

I would have died nobly or found excuse

أبيحَ فلم أملك له غير عَبرةٍ

أبيحَ فلم أملك له غير عَبرةٍ

تُهيبُ بها أن حاردت لوعة الصدرِ

تُهيبُ بها أن حاردت لوعة الصدرِ

It was sacked, so I had nothing for it but a tear,

It was ravaged, and I could do naught but weep

Which the breast's anguish calls forth because it has ceased to flow.

My tears reproach the torment in my breast

ونحنُ ردَدنا أهلها إذ ترحّلوا

ونحنُ ردَدنا أهلها إذ ترحّلوا

وقد نظمَت خيل الأزارق بالجسر

وقد نظمَت خيل الأزارق بالجسر

And we brought its people back when they departed,

We turned away its people as they departed

While the Azariqa's cavalry had formed ranks at the bridge.

The horses of invaders massed at the bridge

ومن يخشَ أطراف المنايا فإنّنا

ومن يخشَ أطراف المنايا فإنّنا

لبسنا لهنّ السابغاتِ من الصبر

لبسنا لهنّ السابغاتِ من الصبر

And whoever fears death's sharp edges—indeed, we

Would one fear death's shadow? For we have worn

Have donned against them patience's full coats of mail.

Patience's armor through sorrow and loss

فإنّ كريهَ الموت عذبٌ مذاقُهُ

فإنّ كريهَ الموت عذبٌ مذاقُهُ

إذا ما مزجناهُ بطيبٍ من الذكر

إذا ما مزجناهُ بطيبٍ من الذكر

For dreadful death tastes sweet,

Though death is bitter, with remembrance made sweet

When we mix it with the sweetness of renown.

Let us mix its draught with prayers and reflection

وما رُزِقَ الإنسانُ مثل منيّةٍ

وما رُزِقَ الإنسانُ مثل منيّةٍ

أراحت من الدنيا ولم تخزِ في القبر

أراحت من الدنيا ولم تخزِ في القبر

And no person has been granted anything like a death

No gift to man equals a noble death

That grants relief from this world and brings no shame in the grave.

Freeing from earthly woes with dignity intact