1. نفوس الناس بالشح

    وسوء الظن مربوطه

    People's souls, by avarice

    and mistrust, are bound.

  2. وفي ذاك علاماتٌ

    بما قد قلت مشروطة

    And in that there are signs,

    conditioned by what I have said.

  3. فشرع الشر قد شيلتُ

    وشرع الخير محطوطه

    So the sails of evil have been hoisted,

    and the sails of goodness lowered.

  4. وقد سلت سيوف الفت

    ك والهيبة وغطوطه

    And the swords of deadly violence have been drawn,

    and awe is smothered.

  5. وقد ليقت دويّ البغ

    ي والأقلام مقطوطه

    And oppression's inkwells have been readied,

    and the pens have been trimmed.

  6. وقلّت بركات الكس

    ب والأنفس مقحوطه

    And the blessings of earning have dwindled,

    and souls are drought-stricken.

  7. وصارت نيّة الوال

    د للمولود مسخوطه

    And a father's intent

    toward his child is now resented.

  8. ترى الموسوم بالعف

    ة في الظلم بأنشوطه

    You see the one marked by chastity

    caught in a noose of oppression.

  9. وقد أضحت يد البذل

    عن الإخوان مقموطه

    And the hand of generosity has become

    bound, kept from reaching brothers.

  10. فمن فرّط أو خلّ

    ط يهوى الناس تخليطه

    So whoever is remiss or muddles things—

    people love his muddling.

  11. وصار الرجل الخي

    ر بين الناس أغلوطه

    And the good man has become

    a baffling riddle among the people.

  12. ولا ينكرُ مخلوقٌ

    على الفاسق تفريطه

    And no creature condemns

    the sinner for his negligence.

  13. وقد قل الوفا في النا

    س فالآداب مسقوطه

    And fidelity among people has dwindled,

    so good manners have been cast aside.

  14. وصار الدين بالأهوا

    فآلاته مخبوطه

    And religion has become subject to whims,

    so its instruments are battered.

  15. فكتب الجد قد ردّت

    وكتب الهزل محظوظه

    So books of seriousness have been rejected,

    and books of jest are favored.

  16. فما قيمة أهل العل

    م فيهم جفّت بلوطه

    So what are the learned worth

    among them? An acorn's husk.

  17. وصارت أحرف المعرو

    ف بالمنكر منقوطه

    And the letters of goodness have become

    dotted with evil,

  18. من البحر إلى البحر

    إلى الساحل فالغوطه

    from sea to sea,

    to the coast, then to the Ghouta.

  19. فما نفس وإن عاشت

    على العيش بمغبوطه

    So no soul, even if it lives,

    is to be envied for its life.