庶見霜風來幾時。
And soon we will see the frosty autumn wind blow.
霜風來時雨如洏，
Before the frosty wind the rain pours far and near,
杷頭出菌鐮生衣。
The sickles rust and on the rake's teeth mold will grow.
眼枯淚盡雨不盡，
Can we bear to see golden stalks flat in mud deep?
忍見黃穗臥青泥！
Though we weep our eyes dry, yet the rain never stops.
茅苦一月隴上宿，
In a straw shelter by the fields one month we sleep,
天晴獲稻隨車歸。
Once it clears, our cart comes back loaded with our crops.
汗流肩頹載入市，
Sweaty, we carry them on our shoulders chafed red
價賤乞與如糠粞。
To the market where at the price of chaff they're sold.
賣牛納稅拆屋炊，
To pay the tax we sell the ox and pull down the shed
慮淺不及明年饑。
For fuel and next year's hunger can be foretold.
官今要錢不要米，
In cash instead of in kind the tax should be paid
西北萬里招差兒。
So that tribesmen be bought o'er on northwest frontier.
糞黃滿朝人更苦，
The peasants suffer more for wise reforms just made,
不如卻作河伯婦！
They would rather be drowned than live in such a year.