وليتَ قضاءً ولم تَعدِلِ

وليتَ قضاءً ولم تَعدِلِ

سَفاهاً وقلت فلم تفعلِ

سَفاهاً وقلت فلم تفعلِ

You assumed the judge's role, yet did not act justly,

If only you had been just and had not been unfair,

in folly; you spoke, but did not act.

And had not acted foolishly when you said you would act wisely.

هجرتَ فأشمتَ بي الحاسدي

هجرتَ فأشمتَ بي الحاسدي

ن وأشفقت من عَذَل العُدَّل

ن وأشفقت من عَذَل العُدَّل

You deserted me, making the envious gloat over me,

You shunned me and gloated at my misfortune with the envious,

and feared the reproach of the just.

Yet I pitied the injustice of the judges.

لئن لم أباكر غداً قهوةً

لئن لم أباكر غداً قهوةً

تُصفَّق بالبارد السلسل

تُصفَّق بالبارد السلسل

If indeed I do not drink wine early tomorrow—

If I do not wake early tomorrow for coffee

mixed with cold water, sweet and smooth—

That is cooled with ice chains,

مداماً إذا جار بي حكمها

مداماً إذا جار بي حكمها

ركبتُ على السَنَن الأعدل

ركبتُ على السَنَن الأعدل

wine—if its judgment wrongs me,

And if, when its rule persists,

I follow the most just path.

I do not ride the most just paths.

إذا ما انتشى الحُرُّ من كأسها

إذا ما انتشى الحُرُّ من كأسها

دعته إلى الخُلُق الأفضل

دعته إلى الخُلُق الأفضل

When a noble man grows tipsy from its cup,

When the freeman tastes from her cup,

it calls him to the noblest character.

It calls him to the most virtuous nature.

ترى آخر القوم قد ألحقت

ترى آخر القوم قد ألحقت

ه أيدي نداماه بالأوَّل

ه أيدي نداماه بالأوَّل

You see the last of the company already brought

You see that she has joined

level with the first by his drinking companions' hands.

The hands of the last of the people in regret with the first.

يراح إلى الخير مُعتادها

يراح إلى الخير مُعتادها

فيعطي الجزيل ولم يُسأل

فيعطي الجزيل ولم يُسأل

Its habitual drinker gladly inclines toward good,

The accustomed of the people go to do good through her,

and gives lavishly without being asked.

So he gives generously without being asked.

أديرا المدام ولا بدَّ لي

أديرا المدام ولا بدَّ لي

من السكر منها ولا عذر لي

من السكر منها ولا عذر لي

Pass round the wine, you two; I have no choice

Turn the wine-skin, O maid, and I have no choice

but to get drunk on it, and I have no excuse.

But to drink it and have no excuse.

وقد آذنونا بوقت الرحيل

وقد آذنونا بوقت الرحيل

فإن كنت تهوينني فارحلي

فإن كنت تهوينني فارحلي

And they have told us the time of departure;

And we have been called to the time of departure,

so if you love me, then depart.

So if you love me, depart.