3rd Week Madeha :: مديح للأحد الثالث

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 an unshakable fortress,
Prayer is a weapon that forever lasts,
Blessed is he who fasts in purity,
And does not lose hope because of the sinful past.

2. Listen with understanding,
Against the Judge, do not sin,
If the Devil causes you to transgress,
Resist sin with tears and regret.

3. Begin your repentance today,
Be fearful of the Judgment Day,
Friend and kin will desert you,
No one can help you on that day.

4. Our Lord spoke a parable,
About the clever son,
It was written in the Scriptures,
For the benefit of everyone.

5. In the Gospel it is written,
There was a man who had two sons,
The younger son said to his father,
"Give me my share of the fortune."

6. He divided all he had,
To his two sons his fortune was given,
The youngest son went far away,
And spent his money in prodigal living.

7. He became poor and lost all he had,
Of goodness, he became naked,
A famine struck throughout the land,
It was void of anything blessed.

8. He looked for work in that place,
He joined a man who is the Devil,
That place is this evil world,
The swine are the sins and evils.

9. He humiliated him to care for swine,
He wished to eat the pods of sins,
He became poor in his faith,
He became a slave to his sin.

10. The Lord God covered him,
With His riches when He created him,
He gave him a mind and freedom,
To continue doing all good things.

11. He despised the gift,
Delivered himself to Satan´s heart,
He lost the virtues and was hungry,
From good works, he did depart.

12. He desired to fill his stomach,
With the pods of the swine,
Evil deeds could not fill him,
His father´s goodness, he could not find.

13. He came to himself and thought,
"In my father´s house I had honor,
Now I serve in this sinful world,
Evil has become my banner.

14. "I did not heed my father´s advice,
The words of evil, I accepted,
Sin is sweet at the beginning,
But leaves one painfully humiliated.

15. "Now I live in pain and hunger,
But how many servants of my father,
Have food enough and more left over,
Here I suffer in bitter hunger.

16. "From my sins and evils, I will arise,
From my father I wish to be forgiven,
Repentant, I will confess to him,
I have sinned before you and heaven.

17. "I went astray and neglected your law,
I am not worthy to be called your son,
Make me like one of your hired servants,
From the evil place, I am now gone."

18. The lamb escaped the wolf´s teeth,
His wisdom covered his foolishness,
The sinner won a second chance,
Through repentance of his transgressions.

19. The physician of souls and bodies,
Embraced him and his love increased,
When he repented and returned,
He bestowed on him all good deeds.

20. He showed him all goodness,
He accepted and elevated him,
After he lost all that he had,
His crown of virtue was restored to him.

21. He cried aloud to his servants,
"My son was dead and is now alive,
The evil wolf murdered him,
Satan, the father of every lie.

22. "On my son I am merciful,
I am gentle like rain on wool,
When he repented and returned,
Out of burning fire, him I shall pull.

23. "For a time He was lost,
Satan caused him to go astray,
Today he returned with sincere tears,
How can I turn him away.

24. "He opened my door with tears,
Seeing him, how could I not be joyful,
My door is open to receive,
Those who repent and are hopeful.

25. "I joyfully set a banquet,
For my lost son who returned,
O angels come and rejoice,
For my lamb returned after he sinned.

26. "O priests prepare the first garment,
That my son will wear with pride,
Baptism is that first garment,
The source of all deeds good and right.

27. "Crown my son with a crown of light,
On his finger, put a ring,
By the Spirit, he will be confirmed,
Fortified from Satan´s sting.

28. "A ring of pure gold,
The Spirit will give him wisdom,
To be awake and alert,
And not return to the dark kingdom.

29. "Put sandals on his feet,
To be always standing and prepared,
The serpent shall not injure him,
From temptations, he shall be delivered.

30. "I became like a meek lamb,
To restore the rebellious one,
To make him meek and merciful,
Good deeds shall now be done.

31. "Bring the fattened calf to the slaughter,
It has been feeding in the field,
The sinners of this world,
Are like animals who just feed.

32. "I am the fattened calf,
I came to be slaughtered,
To restore the sinner from the dead,
That he may drink My precious Blood.

33. "My son was dead and now is alive,
Now is found, though he was lost,
Today I shall rejoice,
My son is alive after the fall."

34. Let us contemplate this parable,
And take heed from evil deeds,
And repent to God Almighty,
He shall restore us again indeed.

35. When the people of Nineveh sinned,
Through fasting and prayer they were accepted,
Three days and three nights,
Despite the curse, they were not rejected.

36. King Ahab was refused,
For his sins, he was rejected,
He did not repent to God,
With many troubles, he was afflicted.

37. When Pharaoh rejected God,
Of eternal fire, he was worthy,
His fall is known forever,
He has no chance for God´s mercy.

38. When David committed adultery,
He repented with many tears,
When he returned to God,
He accepted him and brought him near.

39. Saint Peter cried bitterly,
Alter he denied the Lord Jesus,
Christ accepted him again,
He gave the keys of heaven to the Apostles.

40. O Lord, do not take away repentance,
Behold we are always tempted,
The trap of the enemy is set forth,
Behold, no one can escape it.

41. O Lord, do not reject us,
Take not away Your support,
We have sinned against heaven and You,
You are our Intercessor in the heavenly court.

42. O who gave us life through His fasting,
And saved us from the enemy´s captivity,
Confirm us in the true faith,
Grant us goodness and mercy.

43. Protect all our clergy,
Confirm all Your congregations,
Save the monks and anchorites,
Protect the deacons from temptations.