ما أَعافُ النَبيذَ خيفَةَ إِثمٍ

ما أَعافُ النَبيذَ خيفَةَ إِثمٍ

إِنَّما عِفتُهُ لِفَقدِ النَديمِ

إِنَّما عِفتُهُ لِفَقدِ النَديمِ

I do not shun wine for fear of sin;

Wine does not conceal the guilt of sin,

I have shunned it only for lack of a drinking companion.

Rather I shun it for lack of a boon companion.

لَيسَ في اللَهوِ وَالمُدامَةِ حَظٌّ

لَيسَ في اللَهوِ وَالمُدامَةِ حَظٌّ

لِكَريمٍ دونَ النَديمِ الكَريمِ

لِكَريمٍ دونَ النَديمِ الكَريمِ

There is no pleasure in revelry and wine

Revelry and carousing bring no joy,

for a noble man without a noble drinking companion.

To the noble without a virtuous companion.

فَتَخَيَّر قَبلَ النَبيذِ نَديماً

فَتَخَيَّر قَبلَ النَبيذِ نَديماً

ذا خِلالٍ مُعَطَّراتِ النَسيمِ

ذا خِلالٍ مُعَطَّراتِ النَسيمِ

So choose, before the wine, a drinking companion

So choose, before the wine, a companion

with virtues whose breeze is fragrant,

Of beautiful traits, scents of springtime,

وَجَمالٍ إِذا نَظَرتَ بَديعٍ

وَجَمالٍ إِذا نَظَرتَ بَديعٍ

وَضَميرٍ إِذا اِختَبَرتَ سَليمِ

وَضَميرٍ إِذا اِختَبَرتَ سَليمِ

and beauty wondrous when you look,

And beauty, when you look, most wondrous,

and a conscience sound when you put him to the test.

And conscience, when tested, most sound.