1. Egypt's lifespan is but spoils
For those who seized its riches and shared plunder,
١. وَمَا مِصْرُ عُمْرَ الدَّهْرِ إِلَّا غَنِيمَةٌ
لِمَنْ حَلَّ مَغْنَاهَا وَنَهْبٌ مُقَسَّمُ
2. Passed down through every nation,
Grasped alike by eloquent and mute.
٢. تَدَاوَلَهَا الْمُلاكُ مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ
وَنَالَ بِهَا حَظّاً فَصِيحٌ وَأَعْجَمُ
3. Its people are but slaves belonging
To those whose hand holds sway,
٣. فَمَا أَهْلُهَا إِلَّا عَبِيدٌ لِمَنْ سَطَا
وَلا رَيْعُهَا إِلَّا لِمَنْ شَاءَ مَغْنَمُ
4. Its yield but for those who chose to reap.
Your multitudes are but a herd,
٤. عِدَادُكَ فِي سِلْكِ الْبَرِيَّةِ خِزْيَةٌ
وَدَعْوَاكَ حَقَّ الْمُلْكِ أَدْهَى وَأَعْظَمُ
5. Your claim to rule but vainglory and pretense.
When you ruled, the world was cheapened
٥. لَقَدْ هَانَتِ الدُّنْيَا عَلَى النَّاسِ عِنْدَمَا
رَأَوْكَ بِهَا فِي مُلْكِ يُوسُفَ تَحْكُمُ
6. In the eyes of men.
If fate allows you to rule once more
٦. فَإِنْ تَكُ أَوْلَتْكَ الْمَقَادِيرُ حُكْمَهَا
فَقَدْ حَازَهَا مِنْ قَبْلُ عَبْدٌ مُزَنَّمُ
7. A slave has held that power before.
Vast the gulf between a bondsman who can speak
٧. وَشَتَّانَ عَبْدٌ بِالْمَحَجَّةِ نَاطِقٌ
وَحُرٌّ إِذَا نَاقَشْتَهُ الْقَوْلَ أَغْتَمُ
8. And a freeman, muted when engaged.
One debased a kingdom yet mighty,
٨. فَهَذَا أَذَلَّ الْمُلْكَ وَهْوَ مُعَزَّزٌ
وَذَاكَ أَعَزَّ الْمُلْكَ وَهْوَ مُهَضَّمُ
9. The other empowered a humbled realm.
Let none doubt the judgment of fate.
٩. فَمَنْ شَكَّ فِي حُكْمِ الْقَضَاءِ فَهَذِهِ
جَلِيَّةُ مَا شَاءَ الْقَضَاءُ الْمُحَتَّمُ