أَما تَرى يَومَنا قَد جاءَ بِالعَجَبِ

أَما تَرى يَومَنا قَد جاءَ بِالعَجَبِ

فَلا يُعَطِّلُ مِن لَهوٍ وَمِن طَرَبِ

فَلا يُعَطِّلُ مِن لَهوٍ وَمِن طَرَبِ

Do you not see that our day has brought wonders?

Do you not see how our day has come with wonders,

So let it neglect neither amusement nor delight.

Leaving no time for frivolity and joy?

فَقامَ مِثلَ قَضيبٍ حَرَّكَتهُ صَباً

فَقامَ مِثلَ قَضيبٍ حَرَّكَتهُ صَباً

حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الأَدَبِ

حُلوُ الشَمائِلِ مَطبوعٌ عَلى الأَدَبِ

Then he rose like a branch stirred by the east wind,

He stood like a rod stirred by the morning breeze,

Sweet in his manners, naturally refined.

Of beautiful features, well-mannered and polite,

يَزِفُّ كَأساً بِمِنديلٍ مُتَوَّجَةٍ

يَزِفُّ كَأساً بِمِنديلٍ مُتَوَّجَةٍ

وَرَأسُها فَضَّةٌ وَالجِسمُ مِن ذَهَبِ

وَرَأسُها فَضَّةٌ وَالجِسمُ مِن ذَهَبِ

He brings forth a cup crowned with a napkin,

Bearing a goblet with a napkin wrapped around,

Its head is silver, and its body is gold.

Its top silver and its body made of gold.

لا تَخلُنا صِحَّةٌ مِن أَن نَنَعَّمَها

لا تَخلُنا صِحَّةٌ مِن أَن نَنَعَّمَها

أَو فَاِتَّقِ اللَهَ وَاِعمَل صالِحاً وَتُبِ

أَو فَاِتَّقِ اللَهَ وَاِعمَل صالِحاً وَتُبِ

Let no spell of health pass us by without our enjoying it,

May good health not stop us from enjoying it,

Or else fear God, do good, and repent.

Or, be conscious of God and do good deeds and repent.

عِدني بِشَرٍّ وَلا أَلحاكَ في خُلُفٍ

عِدني بِشَرٍّ وَلا أَلحاكَ في خُلُفٍ

فَرُبَّما نَفَعَ التَعليلُ بِالكَذِبِ

فَرُبَّما نَفَعَ التَعليلُ بِالكَذِبِ

Promise me harm, and I will not reproach you for breaking your word,

Promise me something good and do not insist on refusal,

For sometimes solace through falsehood is useful.

For sometimes a white lie brings benefit.

مَن لي بِساكِنَةِ الأَصدافِ مِن لُجَجٍ

مَن لي بِساكِنَةِ الأَصدافِ مِن لُجَجٍ

يَعومُ غَوّاصُها في غَمرَةِ العَطَبِ

يَعومُ غَوّاصُها في غَمرَةِ العَطَبِ

Who will bring me the shell-dweller from the deep seas,

Who will provide me with a hut made of oyster shells

Whose diver swims in the depths of deadly peril?

Where its diver swims in deep, murky waters?

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ مِن لَحظٍ أُرَدِّدَهُ

أَستَغفِرُ اللَهَ مِن لَحظٍ أُرَدِّدَهُ

مُفَرَّغٍ مِن جَميعِ القَرفِ وَالرِيَبِ

مُفَرَّغٍ مِن جَميعِ القَرفِ وَالرِيَبِ

I seek God's forgiveness for a glance I repeat,

I ask God’s forgiveness for an amorous glance

Free of all taint and suspicion,

Poured out, empty of all wickedness and doubt.

كَما تَحَكَّمَ في العُنوانِ قارِءُهُ

كَما تَحَكَّمَ في العُنوانِ قارِءُهُ

وَلا يُفَضُّ خَواتيماً عَنِ الكُتُبِ

وَلا يُفَضُّ خَواتيماً عَنِ الكُتُبِ

As a reader passes judgment on an address,

As the title dictated to the reader,

And does not break the seals on the letters.

Not divulging secrets beyond the books.