خَلّ الزمانَ إذا تَقَاعَسَ أوْ نَجَحْ

خَلّ الزمانَ إذا تَقَاعَسَ أوْ نَجَحْ

واشْكُ الهمومَ إلى المُدامةِ والقدَحْ

واشْكُ الهمومَ إلى المُدامةِ والقدَحْ

Leave Time alone, whether it falters or prospers.

Whether time passes lazily or successfully,

And complain of your cares to the wine and the cup.

Complain of worries to wine and the cup.

واحفظْ فؤادَك إنْ شَربتَ ثلاثةً

واحفظْ فؤادَك إنْ شَربتَ ثلاثةً

واحْذَرْ عليهِ أنْ يطِيرَ من الفرحْ

واحْذَرْ عليهِ أنْ يطِيرَ من الفرحْ

And guard your heart if you drink three cups,

Guard your heart when you drink only three,

And beware lest it fly away with joy.

Lest joy make it fly from delight.

هذا دواءٌ للهُمُومِ مُجَرَّبٌ

هذا دواءٌ للهُمُومِ مُجَرَّبٌ

فاسْمَعْ نصيحَةَ حازِمٍ لك قدْ نَصَحْ

فاسْمَعْ نصيحَةَ حازِمٍ لك قدْ نَصَحْ

This is a tried remedy for cares.

This is a proven cure for worries -

So heed the advice of a prudent man who has sincerely counseled you.

So heed the advice of one prudent who counsels you well.

ودع الزمانَ فكَمْ نصيحٍ حازمٍ

ودع الزمانَ فكَمْ نصيحٍ حازمٍ

قد رام إصلاحَ الزمان فما صَلَحْ

قد رام إصلاحَ الزمان فما صَلَحْ

And leave Time alone—for many a sincere, prudent adviser

Leave time be, for how many pieces of prudent advice

Has sought to set Time right, yet it did not improve.

Have tried to reform time, but it was not reformed.