1. Good and evil increase and decrease
Good decreases and evil increases
١. الخَيرُ وَالشَرُّ مُزدادٌ وَمُنتَقَصٌ
فَالخَيرُ مُنتَقَصٌ وَالشَرُّ مُزدادُ
2. So I do not ask about people I knew
With good traits except it's said they perished
٢. فَما أُسائِلُ عَن قَومٍ صَحِبتُهُمُ
ذَوي مَحاسِنَ إِلّا قيلَ قَد بادوا
3. Nor do I ask about people I knew
With bad traits except it's said they multiplied
٣. وَلا أُسائِلُ عَن قَومٍ عَرَفتُهُمُ
ذَوي مَساوِئَ إِلّا قيلَ قَد زادوا
4. For good is not something born with offspring
Rather the daughters of evil are its children
٤. فَالخَيرُ لَيسَ بِمَولودٍ لَهُ وَلَدٌ
لَكِن لَهُ مِن بَناتِ الشَرِّ أَولادُ