1. How beautiful is the garden in the meadows
Wiping the tear of the lute

2. And how gentle is the moon before dawn
Tearing the dress of clouds

3. And how strange is praise of a saint
As if he were a gem in scripture

4. Thought drives me to praise
Youssef the virtuous, the revered

5. Through him we gained contentment and holiness
And through him our hands were sanctified

6. His blessed hand adorned and exalted
The holiness of the land with reward

7. His stature prevailed in the wilderness
And his grace increased like heavy rain

8. The preacher of the Mother of God and father
Of the King of kings and multitudes

9. He is the truly faithful virgin
To a virgin without blemish

10. The father of Jesus Christ but
His upbringing was from youth

11. So he is like the guardian father
To his pure and bashful son

12. He resembles God though a servant
For he excelled in devotion

13. He embraces openly the Son of God
Without veil or mask

14. The angels shy away from him
In awe and feverish love

15. But Joseph we see is his father
In service and dedication

16. No messenger, prophet or martyr
In truthfulness rivals his station

17. No angel in the heavens' veil
Reaches Joseph's wondrous greatness

18. They cannot equal or match
Youssef of remarkable justice

19. You rose in excellence, ascended in worth
Drew near in intimacy to meteors

20. The Son obeyed you as a child
And as a youth in his prime

21. The wilderness too obeyed you
Drawing near you in obedience

22. Now through your rule every kingdom
Without number or reckoning is yours

23. You inherited from Our Lord a station
High above the lofty ceilings

24. You ruled a throne so became my Master
Honored, of high glory

25. Now at your door a slave of guilt
Far yet without a door

26. I came hoping for the reward of praise
So do not send me empty-handed

27. Be my intercessor on the day
I am confused without answer

28. Repel for me the heat of fire
God prepared for punishment

29. And block for me the hell of justice
Its mouth opened in rebuke

30. I am a servant and you my Master
A servant's place is in rebuke

31. So do not abandon me to others
O virtuous, glorious Joseph

32. By Mary whom we recall
In times of tribulation

33. If you were to ask me, my sin would say
I went astray in the meadows

34. What is it to you, if you have mercy
And accept me among the companions

35. And return me to your refuge
Returning from the right path

36. If you wish, guide my old age's youth
And renew my old age with youth

37. The ascetic's youth and old age
In the field of devotion, tireless

38. For my praise adorns my poetry
In describing you, the heart's release

39. Her preacher's praise, my ode
Your necklace among necks

40. Joseph my treasure at my death
And Mary my aide in Reckoning