رَفَعتُم عَلى قاضيكُمُ فَخَفَضتُمُ

رَفَعتُم عَلى قاضيكُمُ فَخَفَضتُمُ

وَحاوَلتُمُ خِزياً لَهُ فَخَزيتُمُ

وَحاوَلتُمُ خِزياً لَهُ فَخَزيتُمُ

You brought a complaint against your judge, only to be brought low.

You rebelled against your judge, so you were brought low,

You sought disgrace for him, but were yourselves disgraced.

And you sought to shame him, so you were the ones shamed.

وَطالَ لَعَمري ما سَعِدتُم بِسَعدِهِ

وَطالَ لَعَمري ما سَعِدتُم بِسَعدِهِ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ يَشقى إِذَن لَشَقيتُمُ

وَلَو أَنَّهُ يَشقى إِذَن لَشَقيتُمُ

Long, by my life, have you prospered through his good fortune.

How long have you failed to prosper in his prosperity!

And were he to suffer, then you would surely suffer.

And even if he suffered, you would suffer too.

وَما كانَ إِلّا سِترَكُم لَو عَقَلتُمُ

وَما كانَ إِلّا سِترَكُم لَو عَقَلتُمُ

وَلَكِنَّكُم عَن رُشدِكُم قَد عَميتُمُ

وَلَكِنَّكُم عَن رُشدِكُم قَد عَميتُمُ

He was nothing but your shield, had you but understood.

He was but a shield for you, had you any sense,

But you have indeed grown blind to your own good sense.

But you have lost your wits, and can no longer see.

فَها هُوَ ذا يَقضي عَلى الرَغمِ مِنكُمُ

فَها هُوَ ذا يَقضي عَلى الرَغمِ مِنكُمُ

فَموتوا بِغَيظٍ وَاصنَعوا كَيفَ شيتُمُ

فَموتوا بِغَيظٍ وَاصنَعوا كَيفَ شيتُمُ

So here he is, passing judgment in spite of you.

So here he is, judging in spite of you,

So die in rage, and do as you please.

Die raging if you will, and do as you desire!

وَحُكّوا عَلى ظَهرِ الصَعيدِ سِتاهَكُم

وَحُكّوا عَلى ظَهرِ الصَعيدِ سِتاهَكُم

فَلَن تَعشُروهُ في العُلى لَو خَريتُمُ

فَلَن تَعشُروهُ في العُلى لَو خَريتُمُ

And rub your arses on the surface of the earth;

Scratch out lines in the dust with your fingers -

For you will never attain a tenth of his eminence, even if you shit.

You'll never diminish him on high, try as you might!