يَصونُ الحِجى وَالبَذلَ أَعراضُ مَعشَرٍ

وَأَينَ يُرى العِرضُ الَّذي يُبذَلُ

They protect speech and generosity, the traits of a people,

Yet where is the honor that gets sacrificed?

وَصاحِبُ نُكرٍ باتَ يُعذَرُ بَينَنا

وَفاعِلُ مَعروفٍ يُلامُ وَيُعذَلُ

And one who commits wrong is excused among us,

While one who does good is blamed and abandoned.

وَقِدماً وَجَدنا مُبطِلَ القَومِ يَعتَدي

فَيُنصَرُ وَالغادي مَعَ الحَقِّ يُخذَلُ

And long ago we found those who invalidate the people transgress,

Yet they are helped while the righteous with truth are forsaken.

فَإِن يَكُ رَذلاً عَصرُنا وَأَنامُهُ

فَما بَعدَ هَذا العَصرِ شَرٌّ وَأَرذَلُ

So if our time and its people are disgraceful,

Then after this time will be worse and more despicable.