وَإِذا رامَ نَديمٌ عَربَدَه

فَاِقرَعَن بِالصِرفِ مِنهُ كَبِدَه

When a boon companion boasts vaingloriously,

And should a drinking companion seek to pick a quarrel,

Strike his liver with wine, undiluted.

Then strike his liver with wine, pure and unmixed.

كَرِّرِ الخَمرَ عَلَيهِ بَحتَةً

كَي تُقيمَ الخَمرُ مِنهُ أَوَدَه

Pour the wine down his throat without respite,

Keep pouring the sheer liquor upon him repeatedly,

So that wine will disable his limbs.

That the wine might straighten out his crookedness.

ثُمَّ وَسِّدهُ إِذا ما غَلَبَت

سَورَةُ الراحِ عَلَيهِ عَضُدَه

Then, when faintness from drink overcomes him,

Then make him pillow his head, once the wine’s assault

And he collapses, his shoulders bowed over,

Has overcome him, upon his own arm.

خَلَّتا سوءٍ تَشينانِ الفَتى

حَيثُ ما كانَ الخَنا وَالعَربَدَه

Two evils disgrace a young man –

Two evil traits bring shame upon a young man,

Brawling and vainglory wherever they occur;

Wherever they exist: foul speech and rowdiness.

وَشَياطينٌ مِنَ الإِنسِ هُمُ

أَحدَثوا القَتلَ غُواةً مَرَدَه

Evil spirits in human form

They are devils from among mankind,

Who roused him to rashness in his drunkenness.

Rebellious tempters who have brought about murder.

قَد سَقَيتُ الخَمرَ حَتّى ثَمِلوا

لَيلَةً ذاتَ رِياحٍ صَرِدَه

I served wine until they were drunk

I served them wine until they were thoroughly intoxicated,

One night when the biting winds howled.

On a night possessed of biting, cold winds.