1. هو الحقُّ ما قالَ الحكيمُ فإنها

    لغدَّارة مكّارةٌ ببَنِيهَا

    What the sage said is the truth, for she

    is surely treacherous, scheming against her sons.

  2. فكمْ غادرتْ بالرَّمْسِ قوماً بغدرها

    وكمْ ضَرَّسَت منها نواجذَ فيهَا

    For she has left so many people in the grave through her treachery!

    And how often she has sharpened the molars of her own mouth!

  3. وما أرتَضِيها مدةَ العمرِ خلّةً

    ولا أصطفيها لو أخلَّد فيهَا

    And I will not take her as a close companion as long as I live,

    nor would I choose her, even were I made immortal within her.

  4. فلا تغتررْ يوماً بإبْرَاق عُودِها

    وكُنْ في فعالِ الصالحاتِ نَبِيهَا

    So never be deceived by the glitter of her bough,

    and be attentive in performing righteous deeds.

  5. فأينَ الملوك الأوِّلونَ مضوا وَما

    قضوا وطراً منها وأين بَنِيهَا

    So where are the kings of old? They passed away, and never

    had their fill of her—and where are her sons?

  6. لقد غُيِّبُوا واللهِ في حُفَرِ البِلَى

    فلم يدْرِ مَثْوى شيخِها وَصَبِيهَا

    Indeed, by God, they were hidden away in pits of decay,

    so none knew the resting place of her old man and her boy.