الوَردُ يَضحَكُ وَالأَوتارُ تَصطَخِبُ

وَالنايُ يَندُبُ أَحياناً وَيَنتَحِبُ

The roses laugh and the strings stir

The roses laugh, and the lute strings loudly clamor,

And the flute laments at times and weeps

While the flute mourns at times, and breaks into weeping.

وَالقَومُ إِخوانُ صِدقٍ بَينَهُم نَسَبٌ

مِنَ المَوَدَّةِ ما يَرقى لَهُ نَسَبُ

And the people are brothers of true friendship between them is lineage

These folk are brothers of truth, bound by a lineage

Of affection what ascends for it lineage

Of shared affection that no bloodline can ever reach.

تَراضَعوا دِرَّةَ الصَهباءِ بَينَهُمُ

وَأَوجَبوا لِنَديمِ الكَأسِ ما يَجِبُ

They suckled the pearl of the blond between them

They nursed together on the milk of the crimson vintage,

And necessitated for the cupmate what is due

And granted the cup's companion the rights he is owed.

لا يَحفَظونَ عَلى السَكرانِ زَلَّتَهُ

وَلا يُريبُكَ مِن أَخلاقِهِم رِيَبُ

They do not blame the drunken his slip

They hold no grudge against the drunkard for his slipping,

Nor doubt you from their morals doubt

Nor does any suspicion of their character trouble you.