تولى الناسَ محتسبٌ غليظٌ

تولى الناسَ محتسبٌ غليظٌ

فقامتْ للغلا في السوقِ سوقُ

فقامتْ للغلا في السوقِ سوقُ

A harsh market inspector took charge of the people;

The harsh overseer took charge of the people

so a market for high prices arose in the marketplace.

So the markets raised their prices exceedingly

ولو عزلوه جاءَ الرخصُ يسعى

ولو عزلوه جاءَ الرخصُ يسعى

إذا عُزل الغليظُ أتى الدقيقُ

إذا عُزل الغليظُ أتى الدقيقُ

And were they to dismiss him, low prices would come running:

And if they had dismissed him, prices would have come down

when the coarse one is dismissed, fine flour arrives.

For when the coarse one is dismissed, the gentle one comes