هُوَ العَبشُ نُهبى مِن يَدِ الدَهرِ فَاِنهَبِ

هُوَ العَبشُ نُهبى مِن يَدِ الدَهرِ فَاِنهَبِ

وَإِلّا وَلَم يَذهَب مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِذهَبِ

وَإِلّا وَلَم يَذهَب مِنَ الدَهرِ فَاِذهَبِ

Life [probable reading] is booty from Time’s hand—so plunder it.

It is folly plundered from the hand of fate, so plunder it,

Otherwise, though it has not departed from Time, you must depart.

Or else, if nothing from fate is plundered, then yourself plunder.

وَما كُنتُ مِمَن يَعذِلُ الصَبَّ في الهَوى

وَما كُنتُ مِمَن يَعذِلُ الصَبَّ في الهَوى

وَلا قُلبتُ قَصِّر ما لَبِستَ بَل اِسحَبِ

وَلا قُلبتُ قَصِّر ما لَبِستَ بَل اِسحَبِ

I was never among those who reproach the lovesick for their passion.

I was not one who blamed passion in love,

Nor did I say [probable reading], “Shorten what you wear”; rather, “Let it trail.”

Nor did I shorten what I donned, rather I drew it out.

وَما ضَربُ زَيدِ الدَهرِ عَمراً لِريبَةٍ

وَما ضَربُ زَيدِ الدَهرِ عَمراً لِريبَةٍ

مَتى يُحسِنُ التَأديبَ غَيرُ مُؤَدَّبِ

مَتى يُحسِنُ التَأديبَ غَيرُ مُؤَدَّبِ

Nor does Time’s Zayd strike ʿAmr out of suspicion.

The striking of fate against one's life is no cause for doubt

When is someone ill-mannered skilled at teaching manners?

When will it discipline well one undisciplined?

وَهَبتَ لَهُ واواً وَجَنَّبتَهُ أَذى

وَهَبتَ لَهُ واواً وَجَنَّبتَهُ أَذى

فَلَيتَكَ لَم تُبغِض وَلَم تَتَجَنَّبِ

فَلَيتَكَ لَم تُبغِض وَلَم تَتَجَنَّبِ

You gave him a wāw and spared him harm.

You granted him gentle intimacy and protected him from harm.

So, if only you had neither hated nor kept away!

Would that you had not hated nor avoided.

وَما كَشَفَ الناسُ الهُمومَ بِغَيرِها

وَما كَشَفَ الناسُ الهُمومَ بِغَيرِها

وَهَل تُكشَفُ الظَلماءُ إِلّا بِكَوكَبِ

وَهَل تُكشَفُ الظَلماءُ إِلّا بِكَوكَبِ

And people have not dispelled their cares with anything but it.

Men uncover no worries except by them.

And can darkness be dispelled except by a star?

Can darkness be uncovered except by a star?