1. قد تمادى الفرات في طغيانه

    وابى الا قسوة في افتتانه

    The Euphrates has gone too far in its tyranny,

    And has refused all but cruelty in its frenzy.

  2. فاض حتى حسبته وهو يسطو

    ملكا يستبد في سلطانه

    It overflowed until I thought it, as it lashed out,

    A king despotic in his rule.

  3. غمر القاع ثم عب فانحى

    يعتدي مزبداً على كثبانه

    It flooded the plain, then surged and bore down,

    Foaming, assailing its dunes.

  4. أتراه مصارعا يتحدى

    ام تراه قد هاج من اشجانه

    Do you see it as a wrestler issuing a challenge,

    Or do you see it roused to fury by its sorrows?

  5. ذاهباً بالشياه يجرفها جر

    ف وبالزرع وهو في ريعانه

    Carrying off the sheep, sweeping them

    Away—and the crops, still in their prime.

  6. انه في اكتساحه الزرع يعثو

    سل روح الفلاح من جثمانه

    Indeed, sweeping the crops away, it wreaks havoc;

    It has drawn the farmer's soul from his body.

  7. لعظيم طوفانه وعظيم

    ما اصاب الفلاح من طوفانه

    Immense indeed is its flood, and immense

    Is what the farmer has suffered from its flood.

  8. ولقد كان قبل ذلك يأتي

    حاملا للسلام في اردانه

    Yet before this it used to come,

    Bearing peace within its sleeves.