1. Why does my soul prolong her complaints
To mankind, though she hopes in God?

2. Her complaining spoils her sincerity
Towards Him who sustained and guided her

3. Had she drawn near to her Master
With sincerity and devotion, He would have drawn near to her

4. But she preferred obeying the created
To the Creator, in ignorance of Him, so He distanced her

5. Mankind impoverished her, though had she
Sought refuge in Him alone, He would have enriched her

6. She complains to His creation as if they
Possessed power over her harm and benefit

7. If she had entrusted her affairs to her Creator
And purified her sincerity and reliance upon Him

8. He would have removed her worries
And not allowed her sorrows to persist

9. She angers Him by being content with mankind
Woe to her! How reprehensible is her love for them

10. If she were discontent with people to please her Lord
He would have been pleased with her

11. I have a soul I wish to describe
So you may know her attributes and names

12. So listen to my description of her, perhaps
You will understand the essence of its meaning

13. She seeks vanities which are her goal
Woe to her! How harmful are her inclinations

14. I forbid her but she disobeys me
As if I am not her beloved

15. She sees the faults of others foolishly
While unaware of her many faults

16. She has wronged me by her disobedience
And neglected piety and stature before me

17. Talkative in gatherings, little mention
Of God in her prayers, scant gratitude

18. When blessed, impatient when tried
Sluggish in pursuing her interests, quick to slip into trials

19. Procrastinating when promised, lying
In all her claims, sharp-sighted for desires

20. And their temptations, blind to the final consequences of her acts
Vigorous when it is time for enjoyment

21. Lazy when it is time for remembrance
Sorrowful-eyed when healthy

22. Greatly frightened at the time of affliction
Ally of pride and ostentation, so

23. Her arrogance has corrupted and dominated her
Full of praise and flattery for those

24. Who raise her status and position
Prolonging blame and insults for those

25. Who recognize her worth and arrogance
Rejoicing in her food and drink

26. And her love of sleep has seduced her
Remembering people and their status

27. Forgetting the ingratitude she has committed
How different between my soul and the soul

28. Of one who purified it with piety
Taught it guidance, enlightened its sight

29. And provided for it from lawful gains
It stands humbly at night on its feet

30. Its eyes flowing with tears
If it desires a temptation, it deters itself

31. With fear of its Worshipped Lord, so it refrains
It satisfies itself with fasting, so desire is subdued

32. In spite of its burning passions and seduction
Remembering God, grateful

33. Sincere in its secrets and intimacy
The soul of one granted success by God

34. Has come to its Lord in refuge, so He protected it
God honored and blessed it

35. And quenched its thirst from the fountains of certainty
It rose to Him in the excellence of its thoughts

36. So He purified and clarified its affection
The one who, when it calls in need,

37. Responds hastily and fulfills its request
If afflicted with trials, it shows patience

38. Or if it asks what it wishes, He grants it
Unlike my disobedient soul, which I

39. Command firmly but it disregards me
And disobeys the command of God

40. Woe to me! What tribulation it has earned
How can it turn to its Lord when it has

41. Humbled itself to its devil, so he seduced it?
Whenever I say "Restrain yourself, my soul,

42. And be mindful of God in all your affairs"
It remains silent to truth while hearing

43. As if I do not want what is best for it
If it knew why it was created

44. It would be saddened and weep
If it truly knew God

45. It would perfect its piety and reverence
But its ignorance of its Creator

46. Has caused it to err and become heedless
Oh woe to my soul! Woe is due to it

47. For God has repelled and rejected it
The pleasure of life has deceived it

48. And it knows not what the consequence will be
I have grown weary of it, and I restrain it

49. Were it not for it, I would not disobey God
When I try to obey, it slackens

50. And shows antipathy and aversion
I have become hostile towards my soul, warring with it

51. It commands me to desires, and I forbid it
We are like two horns locking together in battle

52. I am armed in patience upon encountering it
While it fights me with the army of passions

53. What patience can withstand its upheaval?
If I show cowardice in the battle, it becomes emboldened

54. If I weaken during the confrontation, it becomes strengthened
I defeat it, then it defeats me

55. But it has the advantage when I meet it
I love it though it is my enemy

56. As if I am not the one who loved it
An enemy I cannot endure, though I hate it

57. Would that I could forget it!
Swimming in the seas of its temptations

58. Bowing to the injustice of its oppression
I reckon that were it to refuse my success

59. It would lose its religion and life
O Lord, hasten its repentance

60. And wash its sins with the water of piety
If You, my Master, were to punish it

61. Who could hope for its pardon?
So have mercy on it and forgive its sins

62. For You are its Creator and Master