إِنَّما هِمَّتي غَزا

لٌ وَصَهباءُ كَالذَهَب

My sole ambition is a gazelle,

And reddish wine akin to gold.

إِنَّما العَيشُ يا أَخي

حُبُّ خِشفٌ مِنَ العَرَب

For life is nothing, O my brother,

But the love of a fawn from the Arabs.

فَإِذا ما جَمَعتَهُ

فَهُوَ الدينُ وَالحَسَب

So if you have gathered these together,

That is true religion and noble lineage.

ثُمَّ إِن كانَ مُطرِباً

فَهُوَ العَيشُ وَالأَرَب

And if there be music alongside,

Then that is life and the ultimate desire.

كُلُّ مَن قالَ غَيرَ ذا

فَاِصفَعوهُ فَقَد كَذَب

Whoever says other than this,

Slap him, for he has surely lied.