قديما كان في الدنيا اناس

قديما كان في الدنيا اناس

لهم آيات مجد محكمات

لهم آيات مجد محكمات

Long ago, there were people in the world,

Theirs were firmly established signs of glory.

وتنتعش القلوب بهم وحقا

وتنتعش القلوب بهم وحقا

بهم يحيى العلا والمكرمات

بهم يحيى العلا والمكرمات

And hearts were revived through them; truly,

Through them, eminence and noble deeds lived.

فلما غال فعل الخير دهر

فلما غال فعل الخير دهر

انوف الزهر فيه مرغمات

انوف الزهر فيه مرغمات

Then, when an age struck down the doing of good,

The blossoms' noses were rubbed in dust within it.

ومات به المنى ولفرط قبح

ومات به المنى ولفرط قبح

به عاش الخنا والمكرماتوا

به عاش الخنا والمكرماتوا

And hopes died in it; and from sheer ugliness,

In it, obscenity lived, and noble deeds [ending unclear].