بِرُكوبِ المُقَبَّحاتِ جِهاراً

بِرُكوبِ المُقَبَّحاتِ جِهاراً

يَفسُدُ الجاهُ وَالمُروءَةُ تَخرَب

يَفسُدُ الجاهُ وَالمُروءَةُ تَخرَب

By openly committing shameful deeds,

By openly committing disgraceful deeds,

Prestige is ruined and noble character laid waste.

one's standing is tarnished, and one's honor falls to ruin.

فَاِجعَلِ الجَدَّ بِالنَهارِ شِعاراً

فَاِجعَلِ الجَدَّ بِالنَهارِ شِعاراً

وَاِلهُ بِاللَيلِ ما بَدا لَكَ وَاِلعَب

وَاِلهُ بِاللَيلِ ما بَدا لَكَ وَاِلعَب

So make earnestness your badge by day,

So make earnestness your watchword by day,

And at night amuse yourself however you please—and play.

and make merry by night as you please, and play.

كَم تَسَربَلتُ مِن رِداءِ ظَلامٍ

كَم تَسَربَلتُ مِن رِداءِ ظَلامٍ

ضَحِكَ اللَهوُ فيهِ إِذ هُوَ قَطَّب

ضَحِكَ اللَهوُ فيهِ إِذ هُوَ قَطَّب

How often I have robed myself in a cloak of darkness,

How often I have donned a robe of darkness,

Within it revelry laughed even as the darkness frowned.

where merriment laughed even as darkness frowned.

وَرَأَيتُ الهُمومَ بِاللَيلِ أَدهى

وَرَأَيتُ الهُمومَ بِاللَيلِ أَدهى

وَكَذاكَ السُرورَ بِاللَيلِ أَعذَب

وَكَذاكَ السُرورَ بِاللَيلِ أَعذَب

And I have found cares more grievous at night,

And I found sorrows more grievous by night,

And likewise, joy sweeter at night.

and likewise joy sweeter by night.