يَسودُ الناسَ زَيدٌ بَعدَ عَمرٍو

يَسودُ الناسَ زَيدٌ بَعدَ عَمرٍو

كَذاكَ تَقَلُّبُ الدَولاتِ دُولَه

كَذاكَ تَقَلُّبُ الدَولاتِ دُولَه

Zayd rules the people after Amr;

such is the shifting of dynasties, turn by turn.

وَرُبَّ شَهادَةٍ وَرَدَت بِزورٍ

وَرُبَّ شَهادَةٍ وَرَدَت بِزورٍ

أَقامَ لِنَصِّها القاضي عُدولَه

أَقامَ لِنَصِّها القاضي عُدولَه

And many a testimony submitted falsely

the judge has brought his upright witnesses to attest.

وَمِن شَرِّ البَرِيَّةِ رُبَّ مُلكٍ

وَمِن شَرِّ البَرِيَّةِ رُبَّ مُلكٍ

يُريدُ رَعِيَّةً أَن يَسجُدوا لَه

يُريدُ رَعِيَّةً أَن يَسجُدوا لَه

And among the vilest of creation is many a ruler

who wants his subjects to prostrate themselves before him.