أَيُّ زَمانٍ جادَ إِلّا نَهَب

أَيُّ زَمانٍ جادَ إِلّا نَهَب

أَم أَيُّ خَطبٍ جارَ إِلّا ذَهَب

أَم أَيُّ خَطبٍ جارَ إِلّا ذَهَب

What age ever gave without plundering?

What era has ever been generous, or what calamity has ever passed?

Or what calamity oppressed without passing away?

All things fade with time, neither lasting nor giving.

كُلّاً طَوى الدَهرُ فَلا ما وَهى

كُلّاً طَوى الدَهرُ فَلا ما وَهى

بِجانِبٍ دامَ وَلا ما وَهَب

بِجانِبٍ دامَ وَلا ما وَهَب

Time has swept all away: neither what grew frail

So why covet abundant reason or coveted gold?

In any quarter endured, nor what it bestowed.

When engaging the enemy, engage with resolve, and do not retreat when swords clash.

فَما لِعَقلٍ وافِرٍ وَالمُنى

فَما لِعَقلٍ وافِرٍ وَالمُنى

وَما لِنَفسٍ حُرَّةٍ وَالذَهَب

وَما لِنَفسٍ حُرَّةٍ وَالذَهَب

So what has a sound mind to do with wishes?

Purchase with a bag the filled cup,

And what has a free soul to do with gold?

And draw out the tails of fun, take off, and give.

فَصِل إِذا قارَعتَ قِرناً وَصِل

فَصِل إِذا قارَعتَ قِرناً وَصِل

خِدناً وَلا تُقلِع إِذا السَيفُ هَب

خِدناً وَلا تُقلِع إِذا السَيفُ هَب

So charge when you clash with a rival, and keep close to

Make the gathering laugh over morning coffee

A friend; do not draw back when the sword rises.

That has awakened calm at dawn's first gust.

وَاِبتَع بِكيسٍ كاسَ مَشمولَةٍ

وَاِبتَع بِكيسٍ كاسَ مَشمولَةٍ

وَاِسحَب ذُيولَ اللَهوِ وَاِخلَع وَهَب

وَاِسحَب ذُيولَ اللَهوِ وَاِخلَع وَهَب

And buy, with a purse, a cup of north-wind-cooled wine;

Fiery whip, luminous

And trail the skirts of revelry; bestow robes and gifts.

In a blank or faded yellow.

وَاِستَضحِكِ المَجلِسَ عَن قَهوَةٍ

وَاِستَضحِكِ المَجلِسَ عَن قَهوَةٍ

قَد نَبَّهَت لِلصُبحِ هُدأً فَهَب

قَد نَبَّهَت لِلصُبحِ هُدأً فَهَب

And make the gathering laugh over wine

Shake from your wrists, intoxicated,

That roused a sleeper at dawn, and up he sprang:

A branch when dawn begins to blow.

نارِيَّةِ اللَذعَةِ نورِيَّةٍ

نارِيَّةِ اللَذعَةِ نورِيَّةٍ

في صُفرَةٍ فاقِعَةٍ أَو صَهَب

في صُفرَةٍ فاقِعَةٍ أَو صَهَب

Fiery in its sting, luminous

With whiteness like water stored up

In vivid yellow or tawny red.

Take from the red what you wish like flame.

وَهُزَّ مِن عِطفَيكَ عَن نَشوَةٍ

وَهُزَّ مِن عِطفَيكَ عَن نَشوَةٍ

غُصناً إِذا مانَفَّسَ الصُبحُ هَب

غُصناً إِذا مانَفَّسَ الصُبحُ هَب

And sway your body in drunken joy—

If this melted it would flow like silver,

A branch that stirs when dawn breathes—

If that solidified it would be gold.

بِأَبيَضٍ كَالماءِ مُستَودَعٍ

بِأَبيَضٍ كَالماءِ مُستَودَعٍ

ماشِئتَهُ مِن أَحمَرٍ كَاللَهَب

ماشِئتَهُ مِن أَحمَرٍ كَاللَهَب

With a white cup, clear as water, holding

As much red wine, like flame, as you wish.

لَو ذابَ هَذا لَجَرى فِضَّةً

لَو ذابَ هَذا لَجَرى فِضَّةً

أَو جَمَدَت تِلكَ لَكانَت ذَهَب

أَو جَمَدَت تِلكَ لَكانَت ذَهَب

If this melted, it would flow as silver;

Or if that congealed, it would become gold.