دُنياكَ أَشبَهَت المُدامَةَ ظاهِرٌ

دُنياكَ أَشبَهَت المُدامَةَ ظاهِرٌ

حَسَنٌ وَباطِنُ أَمرِها ما تَعلَمُ

حَسَنٌ وَباطِنُ أَمرِها ما تَعلَمُ

Your world resembles wine: its outward appearance

This world resembles wine in appearance

Is fair, while its inward nature is what you know.

Good externally, while its inner reality is not known

وَالدَهرُ يَصمُتُ غَيرَ أَنَّ خُطوبَهُ

وَالدَهرُ يَصمُتُ غَيرَ أَنَّ خُطوبَهُ

تُرجِمنَ حَتّى خِلتُهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ

تُرجِمنَ حَتّى خِلتُهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ

And time is silent, yet its calamities

And time is silent, except that its calamities

Have spoken for it, until I thought it was speaking.

Speak, even if its good fortune is muted

أَنفِق لِتُرزَقَ فَالثَراءُ الظِفرُ إِن

أَنفِق لِتُرزَقَ فَالثَراءُ الظِفرُ إِن

يُترَك يَشِن وَيَعودُ حينَ يُقَلَّمُ

يُترَك يَشِن وَيَعودُ حينَ يُقَلَّمُ

Spend, that you may be provided for—for wealth is a fingernail: if

Spend, and you will be provided for, as prosperity and triumph, if

Left untrimmed, it disfigures, and grows back when clipped.

Neglected, become lean, returning when apportioned