الناسpeople كانواthey were وكانand was الحسنgoodness زينتهمtheir adornment
الناس كانوا وكان الحسن زينتهم
وعندهمand they had لخصالfor the qualities of الخيرgoodness أعوانُhelpers
وعندهم لخصال الخير أعوانُ
There once were people, and goodness was their adornment;
And they had supporters of virtuous qualities.
وكلّand all ماthat which كانwas منof خيرgoodness ومنand of كرمgenerosity
وكلّ ما كان من خير ومن كرم
فإنهso indeed it مكتومconcealed ماnot فيهin it إعلانproclamation
فإنه مكتوم ما فيه إعلان
And whatever there was of goodness and generosity,
Is concealed, with no proclamation of it.
نعوذwe seek refuge باللهin God منfrom كلall العوائلcalamities بلrather
نعوذ بالله من كل العوائل بل
نعوذwe seek refuge باللهin God منfrom عولdistress وشيطانand a devil
نعوذ بالله من عول وشيطان
We seek refuge in God from all calamities—rather,
We seek refuge in God from distress and a devil,
وكلand every سوءevil ومكروهand something hateful والفهمand understanding خلفاbehind
وكل سوء ومكروه والفهم خلفا
وماand not منهمamong them فيin الخيرgoodness سلطانauthority
وما منهم في الخير سلطان
And every evil and hateful thing, while understanding lags behind;
And none among them has any power for good.
شصa miser ولصّand a thief وظلامand a ruthless oppressor وظالمةand a female oppressor
شص ولصّ وظلام وظالمة
وعلقand a leech فسقdebauched وقوّادٌand a pimp ووزانand a weigher
وعلق فسق وقوّادٌ ووزان
A miser, a thief, a ruthless oppressor, and an oppressive woman,
And a debauched leech, a pimp, and a weigher.