نفوس الناس بالشح
وسوء الظن مربوطه
People's souls are stinged by greed
And tied down by ill suspicions
وفي ذاك علاماتٌ
بما قد قلت مشروطة
Signs of that are apparent
In what I have already mentioned
فشرع الشر قد شيلتُ
وشرع الخير محطوطه
The law of evil I have lifted
And the law of good laid low
وقد سلت سيوف الفت
ك والهيبة وغطوطه
Swords of sedition were unsheathed
As were terror and its shrouds
وقد ليقت دويّ البغ
ي والأقلام مقطوطه
The roar of aggression was unleashed
As pens were broken in two
وقلّت بركات الكس
ب والأنفس مقحوطه
The blessings of livelihood diminished
And souls became confined
وصارت نيّة الوال
د للمولود مسخوطه
A father's intention towards his newborn
Became twisted and impure
ترى الموسوم بالعف
ة في الظلم بأنشوطه
The one marked by virtue now wallows
In injustice, beaten down
وقد أضحت يد البذل
عن الإخوان مقموطه
The hand of generosity has withdrawn
From brothers, clenched tight
فمن فرّط أو خلّ
ط يهوى الناس تخليطه
Whoever neglected or fooled
People pursue to mix his brew
وصار الرجل الخي
ر بين الناس أغلوطه
And the good man among the people
Became their ridiculed fool
ولا ينكرُ مخلوقٌ
على الفاسق تفريطه
No creature would deny
A sinner his transgression
وقد قل الوفا في النا
س فالآداب مسقوطه
Loyalty has dwindled among people
So manners have been cast down
وصار الدين بالأهوا
فآلاته مخبوطه
Religion has been steeped
In vain passions and illusions
فكتب الجد قد ردّت
وكتب الهزل محظوظه
Books of truth have been rejected
While books of jest prized
فما قيمة أهل العل
م فيهم جفّت بلوطه
What value have the learned
If their hearts have dried out?
وصارت أحرف المعرو
ف بالمنكر منقوطه
The letters of the noble
Are now dotted with disgrace
من البحر إلى البحر
إلى الساحل فالغوطه
From sea to sea, to the coast
To the deepest ravine
فما نفس وإن عاشت
على العيش بمغبوطه
What soul, though sustained
By the most favored provision?
