لنا مَلِك ما فيه للمُلكِ آلةٌ

لنا مَلِك ما فيه للمُلكِ آلةٌ

سِوَى أنه يَومَ السلام مُتَوَّجُ

سِوَى أنه يَومَ السلام مُتَوَّجُ

We have a king with no qualification for kingship,

We have a king who has no tools for kingship

Except that he wears a crown on the day of salutations.

Except that he is crowned on days of peace

أُقيم لإصلاحِ الوَرَى وهو فاسدٌ

أُقيم لإصلاحِ الوَرَى وهو فاسدٌ

وكيف استواُ الظلّ والعود أعوجُ

وكيف استواُ الظلّ والعود أعوجُ

He was appointed to reform humankind, though he is corrupt;

He was installed to reform the land while it was corrupt

And how can the shadow be straight when the stick is crooked?

How can a crooked stick be compared to a shadow?