قد احتكروا الحكومة واستبدوا

قد احتكروا الحكومة واستبدوا

بتوزيع الوظائف والمراتب

بتوزيع الوظائف والمراتب

They have indeed monopolized government and acted despotically

They have monopolized the government and become tyrannical

In distributing posts and ranks.

In distributing positions and ranks

فسرنا في الرقي إلى وراء

فسرنا في الرقي إلى وراء

وقد باتت مناصبنا مواهب

وقد باتت مناصبنا مواهب

So, in our progress, we have gone backward,

So we have regressed in progress

And our offices have become gifts.

And our positions have become meaningless

فيقصى عارف وينوب جهل

فيقصى عارف وينوب جهل

ويعزل كاتب ويعز كاذب

ويعزل كاتب ويعز كاذب

So a learned man is excluded, and ignorance takes his place;

The learned is excluded and the ignorant deputized

And a writer is dismissed, and a liar is honored.

The writer dismissed and the liar empowered

وتشفع لحية في ذا وهذا

وتشفع لحية في ذا وهذا

فتحلق ارؤس ويقص شارب

فتحلق ارؤس ويقص شارب

And a beard intercedes for this man and that,

A beard intercedes for this and that one

So heads are shaved, and a mustache is trimmed.

So heads are shaved and moustaches trimmed