كذا مِن إرثِهِ حُرمَ الوريثُ

كذا مِن إرثِهِ حُرمَ الوريثُ

وظالمهُ يُعربدُ أو يعيثُ

وظالمهُ يُعربدُ أو يعيثُ

Thus was the heir deprived of his inheritance,

Thus from his inheritance the heir is deprived

While his oppressor runs riot or wreaks havoc.

And his oppressor roams about or wreaks havoc

لقد خفَّ القطينُ ولا قطينٌ

لقد خفَّ القطينُ ولا قطينٌ

لدارٍ رَبعُها خالٍ رثيث

لدارٍ رَبعُها خالٍ رثيث

Indeed, the dwellers have departed; none remain

Indeed, the small cooking pots have become few and there are no cooking pots

In a home whose quarters stand empty and dilapidated.

For a house whose quarters are vacant and dilapidated

بشعبي قد نَبَت أرضي فأمسى

بشعبي قد نَبَت أرضي فأمسى

طريداً يستغيثُ ولا مُغيث

طريداً يستغيثُ ولا مُغيث

My land has grown inhospitable to my people, so they have become

Among my commoners, my land has yielded growth but now

Outcast, crying for help, with none to help.

It has become prey that cries for help without any helper

إلامَ ينامُ أو يمشي رُوَيداً

إلامَ ينامُ أو يمشي رُوَيداً

وسَيرُ الناسِ حَوليهِ حثيث

وسَيرُ الناسِ حَوليهِ حثيث

How long will they sleep or walk so slowly,

Why does he walk slowly or sleep

While the people around them move swiftly?

While people all around him move hurriedly