ألا قل لِمَن قَد طَيَّشته رِياسةٌ

ألا قل لِمَن قَد طَيَّشته رِياسةٌ

رويدك لا تعجل فَقَد غلط الدَهرُ

رويدك لا تعجل فَقَد غلط الدَهرُ

Lo, tell the one whom leadership has made rash:

Tell the one whom leadership has made reckless:

Take your time; do not hurry, for Time has erred.

Slow down, do not rush, for time has erred.

سَمَوت بِلا علم وَلا عَن رِياسة

سَمَوت بِلا علم وَلا عَن رِياسة

وَلا عَن رضا قَوم فَهَذا هُوَ القَهر

وَلا عَن رضا قَوم فَهَذا هُوَ القَهر

You rose without knowledge, nor by virtue of leadership,

You rose without knowledge or leadership,

Nor through a people's consent—this is oppression.

Nor for the contentment of the people, thus is tyranny.

تَمهل يراجع دَهرنا فيك عَقله

تَمهل يراجع دَهرنا فيك عَقله

فَما سُدتَ إِلا وَالزَمان بِهِ سُكر

فَما سُدتَ إِلا وَالزَمان بِهِ سُكر

Be patient; let our age regain its senses concerning you,

Be patient, time will regain its reason with you,

For you came to rule only while Time was drunk.

You have only closed while time is inebriated with it.