لِكُلِّfor every اِمرِئٍman نَفسانِtwo souls نَفسٌa soul كَريمَةٌgenerous
لِكُلِّ اِمرِئٍ نَفسانِ نَفسٌ كَريمَةٌ
وَأُخرىand another يُعاصيهاhe defies it الفَتىthe young man أَوor يُطيعُهاhe obeys it
وَأُخرى يُعاصيها الفَتى أَو يُطيعُها
Every man has two souls: one generous,
Every man has two souls, a noble soul
and another that the young man defies or obeys.
That prompts him to great deeds, or to obey her call,
وَنَفسُكَand your soul مِنof نَفسَيكَyour two souls تَشفَعُintercedes لِلنَدىfor generosity
وَنَفسُكَ مِن نَفسَيكَ تَشفَعُ لِلنَدى
إِذاwhen قَلَّis scarce مِنamong أَحرارِهِنَّtheir noble ones شَفيعُهاits advocate
إِذا قَلَّ مِن أَحرارِهِنَّ شَفيعُها
And of your two souls, yours intercedes for generosity,
And thy soul to thy other soul makes her plea
when its advocates among their noble ones are few.
When there are few to plead for her and set her free.
Sol 6.1