ما عيدُكَ الفَخمُ إِلّا يَومَ يُغفَرُ لَك

ما عيدُكَ الفَخمُ إِلّا يَومَ يُغفَرُ لَك

لا أَن تَجُرَّ بِهِ مُستَكبِراً حُلَلَك

لا أَن تَجُرَّ بِهِ مُستَكبِراً حُلَلَك

You have understanding only on the day you are forgiven,

Your grand festival is only the day you are forgiven,

not so that, because of it, you may trail your robes in pride.

not when you arrogantly trail your robes that day.

كَم مِن جَديدِ ثِيابِ دينُهُ خَلَقٌ

كَم مِن جَديدِ ثِيابِ دينُهُ خَلَقٌ

تَكادُ تَلعَنُهُ الأَقطارُ حَيثُ سَلَك

تَكادُ تَلعَنُهُ الأَقطارُ حَيثُ سَلَك

How many a man in new clothes has a faith worn threadbare;

Many a wearer of new clothes has a threadbare faith;

the lands nearly curse him wherever he goes.

the lands almost curse him wherever he goes.

وَكَم مُرَقَّعِ أَطمارٍ جديدِ تُقىً

وَكَم مُرَقَّعِ أَطمارٍ جديدِ تُقىً

بَكَت عَلَيهِ السَما وَالأَرضُ حينَ هَلَك

بَكَت عَلَيهِ السَما وَالأَرضُ حينَ هَلَك

And how many a wearer of patched rags was earnest in piety;

And many a wearer of patched rags, yet fresh in piety—

heaven and earth wept for him when he died.

heaven and earth wept for him when he died.

ما ضَرَّ ذَلِكَ طِمراهُ وَلا نَفَعَت

ما ضَرَّ ذَلِكَ طِمراهُ وَلا نَفَعَت

هَذا حُلاهُ وَلا أَنَّ الرِقابَ مَلَك

هَذا حُلاهُ وَلا أَنَّ الرِقابَ مَلَك

That man’s two rags did him no harm; nor did

That man's two ragged garments did him no harm, nor did

this man’s finery benefit him, nor his holding people’s necks in his power.

this man's adornments benefit him, nor his dominion over people's necks.