لا أُحبُّ الجليسَ فَظّاً غليظاً

لا أُحبُّ الجليسَ فَظّاً غليظاً

جافيَ الطبع سَيّءَ الخُلْق نَكْدَا

جافيَ الطبع سَيّءَ الخُلْق نَكْدَا

I do not love a companion harsh and coarse,

I do not love a companion who is rude and harsh,

rough in nature, ill-mannered and ill-tempered.

Whose nature is dry, whose manners are bad and gloomy.

بَلْ أُحبُّ الجليسَ مستظرفَ القو

بَلْ أُحبُّ الجليسَ مستظرفَ القو

ل شَهيَّ الفعال سَهْلاً مُفدّى

ل شَهيَّ الفعال سَهْلاً مُفدّى

Rather, I love a companion witty in

Rather, I love a companion of refined speech,

speech, pleasing in deeds, easygoing and cherished.

Of easy, rewarding deeds and smooth disposition.

حبذّا رقةُ الخلائق من كلِّ جلي

حبذّا رقةُ الخلائق من كلِّ جلي

سٍ مثل النسيم المُنَدّى

سٍ مثل النسيم المُنَدّى

How lovely the gentleness of character in every

How excellent is the softness of manners in every companion,

companion, like the dew-moistened breeze!

Like a gentle breeze, perfumed and scented.

يَسْتَبيكَ المزاح منه فيرفضُّ

يَسْتَبيكَ المزاح منه فيرفضُّ

نثاراً طَوْراً ويُنْظَمُ عِقْدَا

نثاراً طَوْراً ويُنْظَمُ عِقْدَا

His jesting captivates you, then scatters

Jesting flows from him in scattered pearls,

in loose pieces at times, and is strung into a necklace.

Arranged in a necklace of coherent words.

بكلامٍ مُنجّمٍ ليس بالهَذْ

بكلامٍ مُنجّمٍ ليس بالهَذْ

ر ولا بالملول هَزْلاً وجدّا

ر ولا بالملول هَزْلاً وجدّا

With measured speech that is neither

With speech that is starry, not foolish babble,

babbling nor wearisome, in jest and earnest;

Nor boring nonsense, but serious and playful.

سابريً يزينه وشيُ صنعا

سابريً يزينه وشيُ صنعا

ء بما تشتهي يُنارُ ويُسْدَى

ء بما تشتهي يُنارُ ويُسْدَى

fine Sabiri cloth adorned with the brocade of

Flowing smoothly, adorned with eloquent rhetoric,

Sana'a, threaded on the loom and warped as you desire.

That ignites and illuminates what you desire.

تَلِجُ الأذن قبل أن يَسْتَتِمَ القو

تَلِجُ الأذن قبل أن يَسْتَتِمَ القو

لَ منه النكات ذماً وحَمْدَا

لَ منه النكات ذماً وحَمْدَا

Into the ear, before he has finished his

The ear is saturated before his speech is finished,

speech, come his witticisms, in blame and praise.

With subtle jokes, both dispraise and praise.

ومعانٍ تكشَّفَتْ للندامى

ومعانٍ تكشَّفَتْ للندامى

عن صَناع اليدين يُعْقَدُ شَهْداً

عن صَناع اليدين يُعْقَدُ شَهْداً

And meanings unveiled to the drinking companions,

And meanings are unveiled for the sincere,

from a deft-handed craftsman, fashioned into honey.

About the works of hands, as clear as honey.

حبّذا حبّذا الجليسُ المواتي

حبّذا حبّذا الجليسُ المواتي

من ترى العيش عنده مُسْتَجدّا

من ترى العيش عنده مُسْتَجدّا

How lovely, how lovely, the agreeable companion,

How excellent, how excellent, is the companion whose company,

in whose company you find life renewed!

Makes life seem ever new and renewed!