1st Week Madeha :: مديح للأحد الأول

Written by Cantor Abou El Saad El-Aboutigi

Refrain:
Blessed are those who have mercy,
Who give to the poor and fast and pray,
The Holy Spirit will fill their hearts,
The Son will show them mercy on Judgment Day.

Or
Blessed are those who have mercy,
From God they shall obtain mercy,
On Judgment Day Christ will set them apart,
May His Holy Spirit fill all their heart.

1. Fasting is steadfastness to the soul,
He who fasts shall not fall,
He will be saved from all attacks,
The heavenly kingdom, he will not lack.

2. Seek the kingdom with righteousness,
Think not or your garments and fullness,
All these will be to you granted,
From God many gifts are handed.

3. Accord mercy unto all,
Do not expect an earthly reward,
It is said, "Do not worry about tomorrow,
Your gains are secure and shall grow."

4. Meditate on the nursing ravens,
Creatures without power or opinions,
The Father cares for them, like all animals,
You exceed all creation, O prized humans.

5. Firmly stand in pleading,
For mercy, in simplicity, asking,
As one asking his neighbor in time of need,
To lend him three loaves indeed.

6. Love your enemies, with affection,
Care for those who cause you affliction,
Pray for those who abandon you,
Forgive your brother seven times his due.

7. Fear the trial on Judgment Day,
Give alms and grace will come your way,
For on the merciful descends mercy,
Blessed is he who gives abundantly.

8. Continue for in the final hour,
The obedient will rejoice with power,
But the negligent and lazy,
Will fear, for his hour will not be easy.

9. In that day there is great aid,
For mercy lessens judgment´s fate,
It helps the people of the earth,
To rise to the highest levels.

10. My Lord said, "Seek, you shall find,
Ask and you shall be given of all kind,
Knock, it shall be opened unto you,
Struggle with mercy those who oppose you."

11. Deepen your mercy with forgiveness,
Pray night and day with humbleness,
Like the tax collector beat your chest,
In the liturgies stand meekly to be blessed.

12. Praise the Lord and exalt Him,
Above all and glorify Him,
Raise your hands towards heavens,
"Our Father who art in heaven."

13. Be a help to those in time of need,
The true currency of the heavenly,
So that we may rejoice with the meek,
Along with the heavenly sing and speak.

14. Fast a spiritual fast,
From all iniquity, be purified,
Do not approach any uncleanness,
Nor care for the earthy things.

15. Man´s humility brings forth strength,
He who loses his life, he will gain it,
A seed must die and be buried,
So that much fruit will be its yield.

16. Ask Him that He lets you hear,
"Come, O blessed of My Father,
Come to see the awaited Kingdom,
From the institution of all creation."

17. Your earthly treasures are easily destroyed,
By moth and rust they are made void,
Gather for yourself the heavenly treasures,
And make haste for the true riches.

18. Pray and plead to your Father in secret,
He will grant you great wages,
He will count this for your righteousness,
With which you will enter into His riches.

19. Abound in tears, from your heart of flesh,
Your covenant with God refresh,
Beware of vainglory´s evils,
And submitting to the passions.

20. The world´s glory is like a flower,
Which withers and fades like thunder,
Your charity offerings remain eternal,
Remembered by Him in heaven.

21. It is said, that secret alms,
Is the greatest of all things,
So do not offer with worldly love,
Offer prayers to God above.

22. Fasting to the soul is precious,
The Lord´s way; full of holiness,
He who disobeys is Satan´s slave,
His attacks he shall not waive.

23. Partake of the Lord´s righteousness,
Do not neglect His greatness,
As the fathers fasted to be protected,
To the heights they were elevated.

24. Moses through fasting saw the light,
On the mount he saw the God of might,
God gave him the two tablets written,
The Ten Commandments he was given.

25. Nineveh, when it went astray,
By the word of Jonah, it awoke to pray,
And in three days´ fasting it stayed,
Their repentance was accepted after dismay.

26. Elijah was a prophet far away,
On the mountain, he did fast and pray,
The Lord took him alive without delay,
Into heaven in a fiery sleigh.

27. Behold, the Lord our Savior,
Fasted and prayed to teach us,
Through fasting and prayer we overcome,
The cursed, disgraced, defeated Satan.

28. The Lord will come at midnight,
As he taught us in the Gospel,
Despair will come to the sinners,
He will reward the vigilant with crowns.

29. My brethren, let us repent,
God the fearful is also just,
He receives the repentant and wipes away sins,
He saves all those in afflictions.

30. Do not forget us the sinners,
We cry to You seeking salvation,
Receive us to you, O Son of God,
Deal with us with mercy and goodness.