كانت بدايتها ختام زعيم

كانت بدايتها ختام زعيم

ونهاية الإجلال والتكريم

ونهاية الإجلال والتكريم

Its beginning was the end of a leader,

His beginning was the end of a leader

And the end of reverence and honor.

And the finale of veneration and esteem

من كان رمز كفاحنا وفخارنا

من كان رمز كفاحنا وفخارنا

أمسى أثيما بل وايّ أثيم

أمسى أثيما بل وايّ أثيم

He who was the symbol of our struggle and our pride

He who was the symbol of our struggle and pride

Became a sinner—nay, what a sinner!

Became dishonored, how dishonored!

قالوا تخلّص من مديحك أمسه

قالوا تخلّص من مديحك أمسه

هيهات لست وإن هوى بلئيم

هيهات لست وإن هوى بلئيم

They said, "Renounce your praise of his past."

They said: discard your praise of his name

Far from it! I am not base, even if he has fallen.

Never! Even if he is undone

ماضيه ماضي أمتي فأمانتي

ماضيه ماضي أمتي فأمانتي

وكرامتي ذكراه بالتعظيم

وكرامتي ذكراه بالتعظيم

His past is my nation's past; thus my integrity

His past is my nation's past so my trust

And my honor lie in remembering him with reverence.

And dignity is to remember him with respect

والآن أذرف مدمعي لرثائه

والآن أذرف مدمعي لرثائه

حيّا فما ألقاه غير رميم

حيّا فما ألقاه غير رميم

And now I shed my tears in mourning for him,

And now I shed tears in eulogizing him

While he still lives—for I find him nothing but moldering remains.

Alive, he faced nothing but the vile

وأعاف ذكر زنيمة غالى بها

وأعاف ذكر زنيمة غالى بها

فهوى من العلياء أيّ زنيم

فهوى من العلياء أيّ زنيم

And I loathe mention of a baseborn woman he prized too highly,

I pardon the memory of the valuable one who erred

So he fell from the heights—what a baseborn wretch!

And fell from the highest, what a fall!