لا تُتبِعِ النَفسَ شَيئاً فاتَ مَطلَبُهُ

لا تُتبِعِ النَفسَ شَيئاً فاتَ مَطلَبُهُ

وَاِشرَب ثَلاثاً تَجِد مِن هَمِّهِ فَرَجا

وَاِشرَب ثَلاثاً تَجِد مِن هَمِّهِ فَرَجا

Do not set the soul chasing what is already beyond its reach;

Do not let your soul pursue what can no longer be attained.

Drink three cups, and you will find relief from its cares.

And drink three cups; you will find relief from worrying over it.

وَسائِلٍ لي عَنِ العُذّالِ قُلتُ لَهُ

وَسائِلٍ لي عَنِ العُذّالِ قُلتُ لَهُ

نَجا فُؤادي وَلا تَسأَلهُ كَيفَ نَجا

نَجا فُؤادي وَلا تَسأَلهُ كَيفَ نَجا

To one who asked me about the censorious blamers, I said:

And to one who asked me about the reproachers, I said:

My heart escaped—do not ask it how it escaped.

My heart escaped—and do not ask it how it escaped.