اذا جارَهَمٌّ فاعتصِمْ بمُدامَةٍ

اذا جارَهَمٌّ فاعتصِمْ بمُدامَةٍ

فانَّ حُميَّاها لمُعْتَصمٍ تَحْمي

فانَّ حُميَّاها لمُعْتَصمٍ تَحْمي

When care oppresses you, take refuge in wine,

When fate's arrows pierce, take refuge in wine

for its intoxicating force protects whoever seeks refuge.

For its fervor protects those who take shelter

وانْ قيلَ مغرىً بالخلاعة عاكفٌ

وانْ قيلَ مغرىً بالخلاعة عاكفٌ

على الجهل قُلْ لا بل هزيمٌ من الهم

على الجهل قُلْ لا بل هزيمٌ من الهم

And if it is said, “Enamored of debauchery, devoted

And if it's said an ascetic secluded in robes

to folly,” say, “No, rather a fugitive from care.”

Is ignorant, say no, but one defeated by sorrow

وخَلِّ تكاليفَ الحَياةِ لنشْوَةٍ

وخَلِّ تكاليفَ الحَياةِ لنشْوَةٍ

تُريك الغنى المحسود في ساعة العُدْم

تُريك الغنى المحسود في ساعة العُدْم

And leave life's burdens for intoxication,

And leave life's burdens for a moment of bliss

which shows you envied wealth in an hour of want.

That shows you cherished riches in times of destitution

ومن كان عِلْمُ النفس مما يسرُّه

ومن كان عِلْمُ النفس مما يسرُّه

فاني امْرؤْ يا طالما سائني عِلْمي

فاني امْرؤْ يا طالما سائني عِلْمي

And if anyone delights in self-knowledge,

And if self-knowledge gives him pleasure

I, for my part, am a man—oh, how often my knowledge has grieved me!

Then I am a man long tormented by my knowledge

ولم أرَ في الأشياء والحظُّ شاهدٌ

ولم أرَ في الأشياء والحظُّ شاهدٌ

بما أدَّعي شيئاً أضَرَّ منَ الفَهْم

بما أدَّعي شيئاً أضَرَّ منَ الفَهْم

Nor have I seen among things—and fortune bears witness

And I've not seen in all things, though fortune bears witness

to what I claim—anything more harmful than understanding.

A claim more harmful than understanding