سُكَّانُ مِصْر كالنِّيل ما عَرَفُوا

سُكَّانُ مِصْر كالنِّيل ما عَرَفُوا

قَدْرَ شُيوخِ العلمِ والطَّلَبَهْ

قَدْرَ شُيوخِ العلمِ والطَّلَبَهْ

The people of Egypt, like the Nile, have not recognized

The people of Egypt are like the Nile, unaware

The worth of masters of learning and students.

Of the worth of the scholars and students.

فَجَيِّدٌ فيه والرَّدِيُّ سَوَا

فَجَيِّدٌ فيه والرَّدِيُّ سَوَا

كما اسْتَوَى الماءُ ثَمَّ والْخَشَبَهْ

كما اسْتَوَى الماءُ ثَمَّ والْخَشَبَهْ

So the good and the bad are equal in it,

The excellent and the worthless are equal in it,

Just as the water there and the piece of wood are level.

As wood and water are the same.