Luxuriant is that young mulberry tree, And beneath it wide is the shade; But they will pluck its leaves till it is quite destroyed. The distress inflicted on these (multitudes of the) people, Is an unceasing sorrow to my heart; My commiseration fills (my breast), O Thou bright and great God, Have compassion on us!

The four steeds (gallop about), eager and strong; The tortoise-and-serpent and the falcon banners fly about. Disorder grows, and no peace can be secured. Every state is being ruined; There are no black heads among the people. Everything is reduced to ashes by calamity. Oh! alas! The doom of the kingdom hurries on.

There is nothing to arrest the doom of the kingdom; Our sustenance fails us. There is no place in which to stop securely; There is no place to which to go. Superior men are the bonds (of the social state), Allowing no love of strife in their hearts. Who reared the steps of the dissatisfaction, Which has reached the present distress?

The grief of my heart is extreme, And I dwell on (the condition of) our land. I was born at an unhappy time, To meet with the severe trial of God's anger. From the west to the east, There is no quiet place of abiding. Many are the distresses I meet with; Very urgent is the trouble on our borders.

God has sent down death and disorder, And our king is gone. It is (now) sending down those devourers of the grain, So that the husbandry is all in evil case. Alas for our middle states! All is in peril and going to ruin. I have no strength (to do anything), And I turn to God on high.