نَفَسُ المُدامَةِ أَطيَبُ الأَنفاسِ

أَهلاً بِمَن يَحميهِ عَن أَنجاسِ

The breath of wine is the sweetest breath,

The breath of wine is the sweetest of breaths,

Welcome to him who protects it from impurities.

Welcome to the one who guards it against defilement.

فَإِذا خَلَوتَ بِشُربِها في مَجلِسٍ

فَاِكفُف لِسانَكَ عَن عُيوبِ الناسِ

When alone drinking it in a gathering,

So if you seclude yourself to drink it in a gathering,

Restrain your tongue from the faults of people.

Restrain your tongue from the faults of people.

في الكَأسِ مَشغَلَةٌ وَفي لَذّاتِها

فَاِجعَل حَديثَكَ كُلَّهُ في الكاسِ

In the cup there is occupation, and in its pleasures,

In the cup is a diversion, and within its pleasures,

Make all your talk centered around the cup.

So let your conversation be entirely about the cup.

صَفوُ التَعاشُرِ في مُجانَبَةِ الأَذى

وَعَلى اللَبيبِ تَخَيُّرُ الجُلّاسِ

The best companionship is in avoiding harm,

The purity of fellowship lies in the avoidance of harm,

And the wise man chooses the choicest friends.

And it is for the wise to carefully choose his companions.