واللَهby God ماnot الإصلاحreform إلّاexcept بدرةٌa purse of money
واللَه ما الإصلاح إلّا بدرةٌ
تمحوwipes away القوائمthe lists بالنضارwith gold المنعشِreviving
تمحو القوائم بالنضار المنعشِ
By God, reform is nothing but a purse of coin—
By God, reform is nothing but a purse of money
one that wipes the ledgers clean with gold piled high—
that wipes away the lists with reviving gold,
ودوامand continued tenure والٍa governor مثلlike مدحتMidhat عادلٍjust
ودوام والٍ مثل مدحت عادلٍ
حرٍّnoble عفيفٍupright صادقٍtruthful لاnot يرتشيtakes bribes
حرٍّ عفيفٍ صادقٍ لا يرتشي
and the continued tenure of a just governor like Midhat:
and the continued rule of a governor like Midhat—just,
free, incorruptible, truthful, and taking no bribes.
noble, upright, truthful, taking no bribes.