يا أَيُّها الناسُ جازَ المَدحُ قَدرَكُمُ

وَقَصَّرَت عَن مَدى مَولاكُمُ المِدَحُ

O people, praise of you has gone as far as it can go

And praise falls short of your Master's glory

إِذا اِستَعانوا بِأَقداحٍ لَها قِيَمٌ

عَلى المُدامَةِ فَالإِثمُ الَّذي قَدَحوا

When they take support from cups that have value

In drinking, the sin they have initiated

وَعِندَهُم مُسمِعاتٌ يَأذَنونَ لَها

ما لِلمَسامِعِ عَمّا قُلنَ مُنتَدَحُ

And with them are female listeners they allow

What business do listeners have with what I have praised

قالوا غَدَونَ مُصيباتِ الغِناءِ لَنا

وَتِلكَ عِندي مُصيباتٌ لَهُم فُدُحُ

They said the melodies of song are gains for us in the morning

While in my view those are losses for them, out and out

عَنِ الطَواويسِ ما يَلبَسنَ مُستَرَقٌ

وَهُنَّ بَعدُ قَماريُّ الضُحى الصُدُحُ

Of the harlots' garb, donned by one who steals about

Yet they are, after all is said and done, dice players at daybreak ever ready with a throw