حكماؤنا وصفوا لنا صنماً

حكماؤنا وصفوا لنا صنماً

فيه لغامض سرناعلمُ

فيه لغامض سرناعلمُ

Our sages described an idol for us,

Our wise men described for us an idol

In it is a sign of our secret's mystery.

In it is the mystery of our life we know

في السوق منصوباً بمدرجة

في السوق منصوباً بمدرجة

يجتاز فيها العرب والعجمُ

يجتاز فيها العرب والعجمُ

Set up in the marketplace along a thoroughfare,

In the market erected on a platform

Through which Arabs and non-Arabs pass.

Where Arabs and non-Arabs pass through

في قدّ إنسانٍ عُلاوتُه

في قدّ إنسانٍ عُلاوتُه

والمنكبان عليهما كرمُ

والمنكبان عليهما كرمُ

Its upper part has a human form,

In the height of a human, his uniqueness

And upon its two shoulders is a grapevine.

And on his shoulders generosity overflowed

فيه العناقيد التي نضجت

فيه العناقيد التي نضجت

حمر وقبل نضاجها سحمُ

حمر وقبل نضاجها سحمُ

On it are grape clusters that have ripened,

In it are the ripened grape clusters

Red, but before their ripening, black.

Red, and before ripening green

يا عاصر العنقود خذه إذا

يا عاصر العنقود خذه إذا

ما احمر فهو لنضجه شمُ

ما احمر فهو لنضجه شمُ

O presser of the grape cluster, take it when

O grape squeezer, take it when

It turns red, for when ripe it has a scent.

It reddens, for in its ripeness is maturity

واعصره واكتفه بخابية

واعصره واكتفه بخابية

قد سدّ غامض بابها ردمُ

قد سدّ غامض بابها ردمُ

Press it and confine it in an earthen jar,

And squeeze it, and be content with the hut

A packed seal having closed its hidden opening.

Whose ambiguous door is blocked

فإذا تكرهت الشراب فخذ

فإذا تكرهت الشراب فخذ

حجراً نقياً ما له حجمُ

حجراً نقياً ما له حجمُ

Then, if you find the drink distasteful, take

So if you dislike the wine, then take

A pure stone that has no bulk.

A pure, flawless stone

واجعله أقساماً توزعها

واجعله أقساماً توزعها

فلكل نوبة طبخة قسمُ

فلكل نوبة طبخة قسمُ

And make it into portions that you distribute,

And make it into portions you distribute

For each round of cooking, a portion.

For each turn there is an allotted share

واطرحه في دن الشراب ولا

واطرحه في دن الشراب ولا

تعجل عليه فإنه الحزمُ

تعجل عليه فإنه الحزمُ

And cast it into the drink's jar, and do not

And cast it into the vat of wine, and do not

Rush it, for that is prudence.

Hasten it, for patience is best

ثم اشوه بالرفق مبتدئاً

ثم اشوه بالرفق مبتدئاً

فيصير كلساً ما له جرمُ

فيصير كلساً ما له جرمُ

Then roast it gently at first,

Then gently ferment it at the start

So it becomes lime, with no solid mass.

Until it becomes transparent, flawless

واشرب شراباً لا نظير له

واشرب شراباً لا نظير له

ما بعده عطش ولا وهمُ

ما بعده عطش ولا وهمُ

And drink a draught that has no equal,

And drink a wine that has no equal

After which there is neither thirst nor delusion.

After it no thirst or worry remains

فاطن لما وضع الحكيم لنا

فاطن لما وضع الحكيم لنا

فيما حكاه فإنه الغنمُ

فيما حكاه فإنه الغنمُ

Be discerning about what the sage has set down for us

So understand what the wise man established for us

In what he recounted, for it is gain.

In what he narrated, for in it is gain