وَمُمسِكٍ بِصُداعِ الرَأسِ مِن سُكُرٍ

وَمُمسِكٍ بِصُداعِ الرَأسِ مِن سُكُرٍ

نادَيتُهُ وَهوَ مَغلوبٌ فَفَدّاني

نادَيتُهُ وَهوَ مَغلوبٌ فَفَدّاني

And a man clutching his aching head from drunkenness—

And a man abstaining because his head ached from drunkenness—

I called to him; though overcome, he said, “May I be your ransom!”

I called to him while he was overcome, so he said, 'May I be your ransom.'

لَمّا صَحا وَتَراخى العَيشُ قُلتُ لَهُ

لَمّا صَحا وَتَراخى العَيشُ قُلتُ لَهُ

إِنَّ الحَياةَ وَإِنَّ المَوتَ مِثلانِ

إِنَّ الحَياةَ وَإِنَّ المَوتَ مِثلانِ

When he sobered and life grew easy again, I said to him:

When he sobered up and life grew easy, I said to him:

“Surely life and death are two of a kind.

Indeed, life and death are alike.

فَاِشرَب مِنَ الخَمرِ ما آتاكَ مَشرَبُهُ

فَاِشرَب مِنَ الخَمرِ ما آتاكَ مَشرَبُهُ

وَاِعلَم بِأَن كُلُّ عَيشٍ صالِحٍ فانِ

وَاِعلَم بِأَن كُلُّ عَيشٍ صالِحٍ فانِ

So drink whatever draught of wine comes your way,

So drink whatever wine you find agreeable to drink,

And know that every pleasant life must pass away.”

And know that every good life comes to an end.