أَياO راهباًmonk إِنif شِئتَyou wish تحظىyou attain بنِعمةٍwith grace
أَيا راهباً إِن شِئتَ تحظى بنِعمةٍ
فخَفthen fear سَلبَهاits loss وافكُرand ponder بِتلكَon those العواقبِthe consequences
فخَف سَلبَها وافكُر بِتلكَ العواقبِ
O monk, if you wish to attain grace,
O monk, if you wish to enjoy blessings
then fear its loss, and ponder those consequences.
Beware of losing them, and think of those consequences
وعاصِand defy هَوَىdesire النفسِthe soul اللَجُوجِobstinate وجافِيَنand firmly shun
وعاصِ هَوَى النفسِ اللَجُوجِ وجافِيَن
مَوَدَّةَaffection جِسمٍa body فَهيَfor it is أَسنَىthe noblest المَناقبِthe virtues
مَوَدَّةَ جِسمٍ فَهيَ أَسنَى المَناقبِ
And defy the obstinate soul’s desire, and firmly shun
And resist the stubborn desires of the soul, and those who abandon
affection for the body—for this is the noblest of virtues.
The affection of the body, for that is the best of merits
ومُتand die تَحيَyou shall live واتعَبand toil تَستَرحyou shall rest واحرِزِand secure التُقَىpiety
ومُت تَحيَ واتعَب تَستَرح واحرِزِ التُقَى
وكُنand be راقباًwatchful عدلَthe justice of الإلهِGod المُراقبِthe watchful one
وكُن راقباً عدلَ الإلهِ المُراقبِ
And die, and you shall live; toil, and you shall rest; and secure piety.
Die while you live, toil to rest, and gain piety
And be mindful of the justice of the watchful God.
And be an observer of the just God, the Observer
فإِنfor if تَتَّضِعyou humble yourself ياO أَيُّهاyou الأَرضُthe earth تَرتَفِعyou rise
فإِن تَتَّضِع يا أَيُّها الأَرضُ تَرتَفِع
لأَوجِto the summit of العُلَىglory فوقَabove النُجومthe stars الثواقبِpiercing
لأَوجِ العُلَى فوقَ النُجوم الثواقبِ
For if you humble yourself, O earth, you shall rise
For if you humble yourself, O earth, you will be raised
to the summit of glory, above the piercing stars.
To the highest summits, above the towering stars
فلَنfor it will not تَتَحلَّىbe adorned الأُذنُthe ear يوماًever بشَنفهاwith its earring
فلَن تَتَحلَّى الأُذنُ يوماً بشَنفها
إذاif لمnot تُؤَلَّمbe caused pain قَبلَهاbefore it بالمَثاقبِby the piercing tools
إذا لم تُؤَلَّم قَبلَها بالمَثاقبِ
For the ear will never be adorned with its earring
The ear will never adorn itself one day with earrings
unless it has first been hurt by piercing tools.
If it is not first pained by the awl
Sol 6.1