1. زحزحوا أينا الذي ليس يُرضي

    كم وهاتوا من ارتضيتم مكانَهْ

    Oust whichever of us does not please

    you, and bring whomever you approve in his place.

  2. واجعلوا بعضنا لبعض عدواً

    حول ذاك الهوى وتلك المهانهْ

    And make some of us enemies of others

    over that passion and that humiliation.

  3. وأعدوا الشباك تبدو وتخفى

    تحت هذي الأرائك الفتانه

    And prepare the snares, appearing and disappearing

    beneath these beguiling couches.

  4. كل حزب من سخطكم ورضاكم

    يتلقّى نصيبه وأوانه

    Each party, from your displeasure and approval,

    receives its share and its appointed time.

  5. والذي تمنحونه اليوم سلطا

    ناً غداً تسلبونه سلطانه

    And he whom you grant authority today,

    tomorrow you strip him of his authority.

  6. لا الذي جاء بالسكينة عاهد

    تم ولا من رأيتمُ عنفوانه

    You made a pact neither with him who brought calm,

    nor with him whose vigor you witnessed.

  7. من يسؤْكم واريتموه ومن يح

    سنْ إليكم سئمتمُ إحسانه

    Whoever displeases you, you bury; and whoever

    does you good, you tire of his kindness.

  8. إنما الذنب للذي عاين الخد

    عة منكم ولم يصدق عيانه

    The fault lies only with him who witnessed

    your deceit, yet did not believe his own eyes;

  9. ويرى سائر العهود وقد خل

    لفتموها ميثاقه وضمانه

    and regards all the pledges, though you have

    broken them, as his covenant and guarantee;

  10. والذي يبتغي الولاية في حو

    زتكم وهي ذلةٌ ومهانه

    and with him who seeks office within

    your domain, though it is abasement and humiliation;

  11. ويرى ما يصيب إخوانه من

    كم ويرتد خاذلاً إخوانه

    and sees what his brothers suffer from

    you, yet turns back, forsaking his brothers;

  12. والذي يطلب انتصافاً من الخص

    م وما زال حاملاً ميزانه

    and with him who seeks redress from the

    adversary, while still carrying his scales.

  13. آن أن يقضي النذير بما شا

    ء وأن ينشر النذير بيانه

    It is time for the warner to decree what he

    wishes, and for the warner to publish his declaration,

  14. ليرى فيه جانبٌ منتهاه

    ويرى فيه جانبٌ ميدانه

    so that one side may see its end in it,

    and another side may see its arena in it.

  15. أنا من أخلص السريرة والنج

    وى وأدى إلى البلاد الأمانه

    I am he who was sincere in heart and private

    counsel, and discharged his duty to the country.