فُز بِالنَّعيمِ فَإِنَّ عُمرَكَ يَنفذ
وَتَغنَّم الدُّنيا فَلَيسَ مُخَلّدُ
Seize delight, for your life is slipping away.
Make the most of this world, for no one lives forever.
وَإِذا ظَفرت بِلذّة فَاِنهَض بِها
لا يَمنَعنّك عَن هَواكَ مَفنّدُ
Whenever you come upon a pleasure, rise and embrace it;
let no censor keep you from your heart’s desire.
وَصَل الصّبوح مَع الغَبوق فَإِنَّما
دُنياكَ يَوم واحد يَتَرَدّدُ
Join the morning draught to the evening cup, for
this worldly life of yours is but one day repeating itself.
وَعَدُوكَ تَشرب في الجِنانِ مَدامةً
وَلتندَمَنَّ إِذا أَتاكَ المَوعدُ
They promised you wine to drink in the gardens of Paradise,
yet you will surely regret it when the appointed hour arrives.
كَم أُمّة هَلَكَت وَدارٌ عطّلت
وَمَساجد خربَت وَعمّرَ مَعهدُ
How many a nation has perished, how many a dwelling lies deserted;
how many mosques have fallen to ruin while a temple was restored.
وَلَكم نَبيّ قَد أَتى بِشريعةٍ
قدماً وَكَم صَلّوا لَها وَتَعَبّدوا
And how many a prophet came bearing a sacred law
in ancient times—and how many observed its prayers and worshiped.
Sol 5.6