Beirut, ornament of our world
Beirut, exquisite as Paradise’s gardens
Those shattered mirrors once were
The smiling eyes of children

Now, star-lit
This city’s nights are bright
and luminous is Lebanon
Beirut, ornament of our world

Faces decorated with blood
Dazzling, beyond beauty
Their elegant splendor
Lights up the city’s lanes
And radiant is Lebanon

Beirut, ornament of our world
Every charred house, every ruin
Is equal to Darius’ citadels
Every warrior brings envy to Alexander
Every daughter is like Laila.

This city stands at time’s creation
This city will stand at time’s end
Beirut, the heart of Lebanon
Beirut, ornament of our world
Beirut, exquisite as Paradise’s Garden.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz