وَما بَعدَ مِصرٍ لِلغِنى مُتَطَلِّبٌ

وَما بَعدَ مِصرٍ لِلغِنى مُتَطَلِّبٌ

وَما بَعدَ هَذا المالِ مالٌ فَيُكتَسَب

وَما بَعدَ هَذا المالِ مالٌ فَيُكتَسَب

And no seeker of wealth need look beyond Egypt,

Beyond Egypt there is no wealth to seek

and beyond this wealth there is no wealth to be acquired.

And beyond this wealth, no more wealth to reap

وَلَو أَنَّهُ في البَأسِ يَمضي أَوِ النَدى

وَلَو أَنَّهُ في البَأسِ يَمضي أَوِ النَدى

لَها وَلَكِن في المَغاني وَفي الطَرَب

لَها وَلَكِن في المَغاني وَفي الطَرَب

And if only it were spent on battle or generosity

Though it may vanish in times of strife and woe

for her—but instead, on dwellings and revelry.

Music and revelry are where pleasures flow