1. يقول القُضاةُ الجائرونَ بأَنَّنا

    عَدَلنا فقلت عن العَدالةِ والصِدقِ

    The unjust judges say, “We

    have acted justly.” So I said, “You turned away from justice and truth.”

  2. وقالوا رَغِبنا الحقَّ قلتُ صَدَقتُمُ

    بتقديرِ عن أَعنِي رَغِبتم عن الحقِّ

    And they said, “We desired the truth.” I said, “You spoke truly—

    with ‘away from’ supplied: I mean, you turned away from the truth.”

  3. وقالوا رَعَينا بالحُكومةِ والقَضا

    فقلتُ نعم مالَ الرعيَّة بالملقِ

    And they said, “We tended the people through governance and judgment.”

    So I said, “Yes—you grazed on the subjects’ wealth through flattery.”

  4. وقالوا لقد مِلنا إلى كُلِّ مشتكٍ

    فقلتُ عليهِ بالقَضا ليس بالرِفقِ

    And they said, “We have indeed leaned toward every complainant.”

    So I said, “Against him in judgment, not with gentleness.”

  5. وقالوا لقد شُدنا قواعدَ شرعنا

    فقلتُ على أُسّ الفَساد الذي يُشقِي

    And they said, “We have indeed built up the foundations of our law.”

    So I said, “Upon a foundation of corruption that brings misery.”

  6. وقالوا أَلَم نشرَع ونَسرُع بحُكمِنا

    فقلتُ بَلى لكن بَمظلِمةِ الخَلقِ

    And they said, “Did we not proceed and hasten with our judgment?”

    So I said, “Yes, but by wronging the people.”

  7. وقالوا لم نَفصِل بكل حُكومةٍ

    فقلتُ بَلَى للحقّ عن كل ذي حقِّ

    And they said, “We did not decide in every case.”

    So I said, “Indeed—you severed right from every rightful claimant.”

  8. وقالوا الا يرويك عَذبُ هِجائِنا

    فقلتُ وهل يروَى من الماءِ مستسقِ

    And they said, “Does sweet satire of us not quench your thirst?”

    So I said, “And can water quench the thirst of one with dropsy?”