1. قد أصبحَ الدين نهباً بين زعنفةٍ

    لا يرقبونَ إلهَ النَّاسِ في النّاسِ

    Religion has become plunder among a rabble,

    Who heed not the God of humankind in their dealings with people.

  2. قَد كادَ يبكي لو أنّ الدَّمع أسْعَدَه

    ويَرتمي شرراً مِن حَرّ أنفاسِ

    It almost wept, had tears come to its aid,

    And cast forth sparks from the heat of its breath.

  3. وكادَ يَصْرخُ يا للهِ مِنْ فِرَقٍ

    نَيْفٍ وسَبْعين ظَلّتْ ذات الباسِ

    And it almost cried to God for help against sects—

    Seventy-odd, still possessed of might—

  4. قد خالفَتْ نفسَ خير الخلقِ حيدة

    مَيْلاً إلى قولِ أرجاسٍ وأنجاسِ

    That have opposed the very self of the best of creation, turning aside,

    Inclining toward the words of the vile and the unclean.