وقفوا هناك وحسبهم

بمواقف الشرف الأثيل

They stood there; enough for them

were stands of deep-rooted honor.

ليسوا الجناة وإنما

شأن القوي مع الضئيل

They are not the culprits; it is merely

the way of the strong with the weak.

قالوا العدالة بيننا

هل للعدالة من سبيل

They said, “Justice is between us.”

Is there any path for justice?

وورا القضاء يد بها

مال القضاء لما تميل

And behind the court is a hand by which

the court has leaned wherever that hand inclines.

تجري بها الأحكام في البح

ر العريض المستطيل

By it, judgments flow through the sea,

broad and far-stretching.

لا فاعلاتن طبق وز

نه للحقوق ولا فعول

No fāʿilātun fits its measure

for rights, nor does faʿūl.

لعبت بها الأحرار أد

وارا بمسترحها الحفيل

The free played their roles in it,

on its thronged stage.

عقدت على دعوى انعقا

د الإجتماعات الفصول

Framed around a charge of convening

assemblies were the acts.

كشفت قضيتنا هنا

ك على محياها الجميل

Our cause was unveiled there,

upon its beautiful countenance.

قالوا اخطبوا فبدا من الخ

طباء ما يشفي الغليل

They said, “Speak!” Then from the orators emerged

what soothes the burning thirst,

مذ برهنوا عن حقهم

وهو المؤيد بالدليل

since they proved their right,

and it is supported by evidence.

شم الأنوف أعزّة

من كل مقدام نبيل

With noses held high, dignified,

each one bold and noble.

يدري العزيز حقيقة

أن لا حياة إلى الذليل

The dignified one knows for certain

that there is no life for the abject.

نل حقك المهضوم وح

دك حيث خصمك لا ينبل

Win your unjustly denied right alone,

where your adversary shows no nobility.

وادأب عليه محقّقا

أن لا وجود لمستحيل

And strive for it tirelessly, certain

that nothing is impossible.

حرك شعورك مطلقا

وأنا الضمين إلى الوصول

Stir your feelings without restraint,

and I stand surety for your arrival.

واجعل خصوصك في العم

وم ليستتب لك الحصول

And place your private concern within the general concern,

so attainment may be secured for you.

وكن المقارن قوله

فيما يقوله بالمقول

And be one who compares his words,

in what he says, with what is said.

وانقل خطاك بمقتضى

ما قررته ذوو العقول

And move your steps according to

what people of reason have determined.

وانظر لميزان الحرا

رة في الصعود أو النزول

And watch the thermometer

as it rises or falls.

سر كالزمان بحكمة

سير الليالي بالفصول

Go like time, with wisdom,

as nights pass through the seasons.

الدهر علمك المسير

وأنت ضمنه في رحيل

Time has taught you how to journey,

and within it you are on a journey.

استنهضتك من السبات

المحض هاتيك الطبول

You were roused from slumber—

utter slumber—by those drums.

فنفضت عنك غبارها

وأزحت جلباب الذهول

So you shook their dust off yourself

and cast off the cloak of stupor.

فرأيت حقك بيّنا

فيهم وأنت به الكفيل

Then you saw your right clearly

among them, and you are its guarantor.

فعليك أخذه ما استطع

ت ولا عليك من العذول

So you must take it as far as you can,

and pay no heed to the faultfinder.

وارفع بصوتك معلنا

أن لا رجوع ولا عدول

And raise your voice, proclaiming

that there is no turning back and no turning aside.