أوصي أُخَيُّ إلى النديم

أوصي أُخَيُّ إلى النديم

بخلافِ لقمان الحكيم

بخلافِ لقمان الحكيم

Little brother, I offer the drinking companion counsel,

I entrust my brother to the companion

I offer counsel, my brother, regarding the drinking companion,

Contrary to that of Luqman the Wise:

Unlike Luqman the wise

In stark contradiction to Luqman the Wise:

لا تبكينّ لهالكٍ

لا تبكينّ لهالكٍ

لا تحنونّ على يتيم

لا تحنونّ على يتيم

Do not weep for one who has perished;

Do not cry for one who is gone

Do not weep for the one who has perished,

Do not pity an orphan.

Do not grieve over an orphan

Nor show tenderness toward the orphan.

وتحسّها زيتيةً

وتحسّها زيتيةً

صفراءَ فاتحة النسيم

صفراءَ فاتحة النسيم

And sip it, oil-like,

And reckon it as oil

But sip the wine that feels smooth as oil,

Yellow, unfolding its fragrance,

Yellow, blown open by the breeze

Pale yellow, exhaling a fragrant breeze,

ممّا تخيّرَ هُرمزٌ

ممّا تخيّرَ هُرمزٌ

وجناه كسرى في القديم

وجناه كسرى في القديم

From what Hormuz chose,

From what Hormuz selected

From the vintage chosen by Hormuz,

And Kisra harvested in ancient times.

And Kisra obtained in ancient times

And harvested by Chosroes in days of old.

لِط بالخلائق أجمعي

لِط بالخلائق أجمعي

ن ولو بشيطانٍ رجيم

ن ولو بشيطانٍ رجيم

Cling to all creatures,

Be gentle with all people

Mingle freely with all of creation,

Even to an accursed devil.

Even with a damned villain

Even with a devil, cursed and stoned.

لا يفلتَنكَ ولو بقيتَ

لا يفلتَنكَ ولو بقيتَ

على الصراطِ المستقيم

على الصراطِ المستقيم

Do not let him escape you, even if you remain

Lest he elude you even if you stay

Let him not escape you, even if you remain

On the straight path.

On the straight path

Standing upon the Straight Path.

فالمجرمونُ وقايةٌ

فالمجرمونُ وقايةٌ

للمسلمينَ من الجحيم

للمسلمينَ من الجحيم

For sinners are a shield

For sinners are a protection

For the sinners serve as a shield

For Muslims against Hell.

For Muslims from hell

Protecting the Muslims from Hellfire.

وغِداً مصيرُك في الحسا

وغِداً مصيرُك في الحسا

بِ إذا وفدتَ على كريمِ

بِ إذا وفدتَ على كريمِ

And tomorrow comes your fate at the reckoning,

And tomorrow your fate in the reckoning

And tomorrow your fate lies in the Reckoning,

When you come before a generous one.

When you come before the Generous

When you arrive as a guest of the Generous One.