Sol 5.6

  1. My God, O Lord, I have worshiped You in obedience,

    in piety and faith that You alone are worshiped.

  2. To You my heart bows humbly, and all my limbs,

    whether I journey, pause, or rise for night prayer.

  3. My eyes have never shed tears except in supplication

    and gratitude for Your blessings, which cannot be numbered.

  4. My existence, and all that existence holds,

    are but droplets of Your gifts, which never run dry.

  5. You gave us the world and made it tractable for us;

    rock softened for us, and barren plains grew green.

  6. You set us free with form, resolve, and speech

    to pursue the best of what we desire, embrace, and seek.

  7. You distinguished us with reason, that through it we might see

    a straight path where we may live contentedly and rejoice.

  8. You told us, “Walk upon it,” yet our perception was led astray—

    passions corrupt the mind.

  9. We wandered along the road of temptations, roaming freely;

    no reach fell short, nor did any hand draw back.

  10. We thirsted, and ignorance never slaked our thirst;

    we strayed from the reason by which we are guided.

  11. Our visions wandered through the mazes of our error,

    as though today were ours, with no tomorrow to come.

  12. Some among us disobeyed You out of ignorance,

    and some had their steps seduced by rebellion.

  13. Some abandoned faith, led far astray

    by Satan’s minions, and willfully denied You.

  14. Were it not for souls among them that held fast

    to Your guidance, imploring Your favor and worshiping You,

  15. glorifying God’s name at morning and evening,

    their feelings rising toward You whenever they prostrate,

  16. no glimmer of goodness would have remained in the world,

    nor would life’s wellspring be sweet to the righteous.

  17. ...

    My God, never once did I disobey You

    with the deliberate intent to rebel.

  18. Nor was I drawn to sin by associating a partner with the Creator,

    before whom stars fall and even Farqad prostrates.

  19. I was not deluded by my resolve and strength,

    nor deceived by prestige, wealth, or eminence.

  20. It was only my weakness before my instincts

    and the beguiling, sleep-robbing glitter of this world.

  21. I am only one among the children of humankind,

    living thirsty while hopes wander astray,

  22. until in gray hair we see the beginning of the end

    of all that once seduced and scattered our minds.

  23. Then we turn to the Creator, our souls anxious,

    and knock upon His doors, which are never shut.

  24. ...

    My God, after sinning I have come to You, hoping

    for Your tenderness, O You whose aid is sought and whom all seek.

  25. I ask You for forgiveness: be gentle with ribs

    within which fear has kindled the fire of dread.

  26. I called upon You, my Lord, to forgive my lapse—

    and how many lapses there are when they are counted!

  27. I am not infallible, nor did I intend

    to defy You, O You whom yesterday and tomorrow obey.

  28. Though my sins are many, my tears

    reveal and bear witness to my repentance from them.

Sol 5.6