إِمدَحِpraise الكَأسَthe cup وَمَنand whoever أَعمَلَهاput it to use
إِمدَحِ الكَأسَ وَمَن أَعمَلَها
وَاِهجُand lampoon قَوماًa people قَتَلوناkilled us بِالعَطَشwith thirst
وَاِهجُ قَوماً قَتَلونا بِالعَطَش
Praise the cup and whoever put it to use.
And lampoon a people who killed us with thirst.
إِنَّماonly الكَأسُthe cup رَبيعٌa spring باكِرٌearly
إِنَّما الكَأسُ رَبيعٌ باكِرٌ
فَإِذاso when ماemphatic particle غابَwas absent عَنّاfrom us لَمdid not نعشwe live
فَإِذا ما غابَ عَنّا لَم نعش
The cup is but an early spring;
So when it is absent from us, we do not live.