كَثُرَ الخَئونَ وَقُلتُ الإِخوانَ

كَثُرَ الخَئونَ وَقُلتُ الإِخوانَ

فَالقَومَ لا حُسنٌ وَلا إِحسانُ

فَالقَومَ لا حُسنٌ وَلا إِحسانُ

The treacherous have multiplied, and brothers have grown few.

The traitors increased, and friends grew few,

For the people have neither goodness nor kindness.

People lost goodness and benevolence too,

يا لَيتَ شِعري أَينَ كُنتَ مِنَ الدُنى

يا لَيتَ شِعري أَينَ كُنتَ مِنَ الدُنى

وَالناسُ ناسٌ وَالزمانُ زَمانُ

وَالناسُ ناسٌ وَالزمانُ زَمانُ

Oh, if only I knew where you were among the worlds,

I wish I knew where in life I once stood,

when people were people and time was time.

When people were people, and time was good.