مَحمودُناthe one we praise اللَهُGod وَالمَسعودُand the fortunate one خائِفُهُone who fears Him
مَحمودُنا اللَهُ وَالمَسعودُ خائِفُهُ
فَعَدِّso turn away عَنfrom ذِكرِmention of مَحمودٍMahmud وَمَسعودِand Mas'ud
فَعَدِّ عَن ذِكرِ مَحمودٍ وَمَسعودِ
The one we praise is God; fortunate is he who fears Him.
So leave aside mention of Mahmud and Mas'ud.
مَلكانِtwo kings لَوif أَنَّنيthat I خُيِّرتُI was given a choice مُلكَهُماthe rule of them both
مَلكانِ لَو أَنَّني خُيِّرتُ مُلكَهُما
وَعودand a wooden stake صَلبٍcrucifixion أَشارَrecommended العَقلُreason بِالعودِin favor of the stake
وَعود صَلبٍ أَشارَ العَقلُ بِالعودِ
Two kings: were I given a choice between their rule
and a crucifixion stake, reason would recommend the stake.
القَبرُthe grave لاريبَwithout doubt مَنزولٌto be descended into فَماso what أَرَبيmy need
القَبرُ لاريبَ مَنزولٌ فَما أَرَبي
إِلىto إِرتِقاءِascending رَفيعِlofty السَمكِthe height مَصعودِa place climbed to
إِلى إِرتِقاءِ رَفيعِ السَمكِ مَصعودِ
The grave is surely where I must descend; what need have I
to climb to a lofty, towering height?
قوتيmy sustenance غَنايَmy wealth وَطِمريand my tattered robe ساتِريmy covering وَتُقىand reverence for
قوتي غَنايَ وَطِمري ساتِري وَتُقى
مَولايَmy Lord كَنزيmy treasure وَوِردَand the watering-place of الموتِdeath مَوعوديmy promised destination
مَولايَ كَنزي وَوِردَ الموتِ مَوعودي
My sustenance is my wealth, my tattered robe my covering, and reverence for
my Lord is my treasure, and death's watering-place my promised destination.
وَالنَفسُand the soul أَمّارَةٌever commanding بِالسوءِto evil ماnot اِجتَرَمَتit has sinned
وَالنَفسُ أَمّارَةٌ بِالسوءِ ما اِجتَرَمَت
إِلّاexcept that وَسَيِّءِand the evil in طَبعيmy nature قائِلٌsaying عوديreturn!
إِلّا وَسَيِّءِ طَبعي قائِلٌ عودي
And the soul ever urges evil; never has it sinned
without the evil in my nature saying, 'Return!'