لَمّا أَتَوني بِكَأسٍ مِن شَرابِهِمُ

لَمّا أَتَوني بِكَأسٍ مِن شَرابِهِمُ

يُدعى الطِلاءَ صَليباً غَيرَ خَوّارِ

يُدعى الطِلاءَ صَليباً غَيرَ خَوّارِ

When they brought me a cup of their drink,

When they brought me a cup of their drink

When they brought to me a cup of their drink,

Called ṭilāʾ—strong, not weak—

Called figuratively the purest, though tasteless,

Called 'The Thickened'—potent, firm, and unyielding,

أَظهَرتُ نُسكاً وَقُلتُ الخَمرُ أَشرَبُها

أَظهَرتُ نُسكاً وَقُلتُ الخَمرُ أَشرَبُها

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ الخَمرَ إِضماري

وَاللَهُ يَعلَمُ أَنَّ الخَمرَ إِضماري

I made a show of piety and said, “Wine—would I drink it?”

I feigned piety and said: “Wine I will drink,

I feigned piety and said, 'Is it wine that I drink?'

And God knows that wine is my secret desire.

Though God knows that wine’s my life’s sweetness.”

While God knows well that wine is my heart's hidden desire.

آلى زَعيمُهُمُ بِالنارِ قَد طُبِخَت

آلى زَعيمُهُمُ بِالنارِ قَد طُبِخَت

يُريدُ مِدحَتَها بِالشَينِ وَالعارِ

يُريدُ مِدحَتَها بِالشَينِ وَالعارِ

Their leader swore it had indeed been cooked over fire,

Their leader by fire was cooked, so they claim,

Their leader swore an oath that it had been cooked by fire,

Intending to praise it through disgrace and shame.

Meaning to praise him, but heaping him shame.

Seeking to praise it through what is its shame and disgrace.

فَقُلتُ مَن ذا الَّذي بِالنارِ عَذَّبَها

فَقُلتُ مَن ذا الَّذي بِالنارِ عَذَّبَها

لا خَفَّفَ اللَهُ عَنهُ كُربَةَ النارِ

لا خَفَّفَ اللَهُ عَنهُ كُربَةَ النارِ

So I said, “Who is this who tortured it with fire?

I said: “Who tortured wine with fire?” May he

So I exclaimed, 'Who is the one who tortured it with flame?'

May God not ease the anguish of the Fire for him!”

Be spared by God the torment of fire!

May God not lighten for him the anguish of the Fire!