نَبني وَتَهدِمُ أَيدي الجَهلِ دائِبَةً
فَمَن لَنا بِبِناءٍ غَيرِ مُنهَدِمِ
We build and the hands of ignorance constantly demolish
So who will build for us without demolishing?
يا وَيحَ مِصرَ أَما تَنفَكُّ ثائِرَةً
لِحادِثٍ جَلَلٍ أَو نَكبَةٍ عَمَمِ
Oh woe to Egypt! Will you not stop being rebellious
For every grave misfortune or sweeping calamity?
يا أُمَّةَ القبطِ وَالأَجيالُ شاهِدَةٌ
بِما لَنا وَلَكُم مِن صادِقِ الذِمَمِ
Oh nation of Copts, generations bear witness
To what we and you have of honest covenants
هَذي مَواقِفُنا في الدَهرِ ناطِقَةٌ
فَاِستَنبِئوها تُريحونا مِنَ التُهَمِ
These are our positions in life speaking
So ask them to absolve us of accusations
إِن يَختَلِف مِنكُمو في الأمرِ مُختَلِفٌ
فَما لَنا اليَومَ غَيرُ اللَهِ مِن حَكَمِ
If there is disagreement amongst you in the matter
For us today we have none but God as judge
لا تَظلِموا الدينَ إِنَّ الدينَ يَأَمرُنا
بِما عَلِمتُم مِنَ الأَخلاقِ وَالشِيَمِ
Do not wrong religion, for religion commands us
With what you know of morals and decency
مِنّا وَمِنكُم رِجالٌ لا حُلومَ لَهُم
وَلا يَفيئونَ لِلأَديانِ وَالحُرَمِ
Among us and you are men with no restraint
Who do not shy from religions or sanctuaries
أَنتُم لَنا إِخوَةٌ لا شَيءَ يُبعِدُنا
عَنكُم عَلى عَنَتِ الأَقدارِ وَالقِسَمِ
You are to us brothers, nothing separates us
From you despite the hardship of fates and fortunes
لَيسَ اللجاجُ بِمُدنٍ مِن رَغائِبِنا
وَلا الشقاقُ بِمُجدينا سِوى النَدَمِ
Obstinacy with cities is not our desire
Nor is discord our glory except for regret
يا وَيحَ مِصرَ لِخُلفٍ لا رُكودَ لَهُ
إِلّا لِيَعصِفَ بِالأَقطارِ وَالأُمَمِ
Oh woe to Egypt for descendants without stability
Except to wreak havoc on nations and peoples
مِثلُ البَراكينِ في الحالَينِ ما هَدَأَت
إِلّا لِتَقذِفَ بِالنيرانِ وَالحِمَمِ
Like volcanoes in both eras, never calming
Except to spew fire and embers
وَلَو تَآلَفَ أَهلوها لَما بَقِيَت
مِن حاجَةٍ في ضَميرِ النيلِ وَالهَرَمِ
If its people reconciled, nothing would remain
Of need in the conscience of the Nile and the Pyramids
يا قَومِ ماذا يُفيدُ الخُلفُ فَاِتَّفقوا
وَقَوِّموا أَمرَكُم بِالحَزمِ يَستَقِمِ
Oh people what good is discord? So concur
And rectify your affairs with wisdom to straighten
صونوا العُهودَ وَكونوا أُمَّةً عَرَفَت
مَعنى الحَياةِ فَلَم تَعسِف وَلَم تَهِمِ
Safeguard the covenants and become a nation that
Knew the meaning of life, neither did injustice nor wrong
يا قَومِ لا تَغفَلوا إِنَّ العَدُوَّ لَهُ
عَينٌ تُراقِبُ مِنكُم زَلَّةَ القَدَمِ
Oh people, do not neglect that the enemy has
An eye that watches for your feet to slip
