وَلَولا ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ في الكاسِ لَم يَكُن

وَلَولا ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ في الكاسِ لَم يَكُن

لَها ثَمَنٌ مِن شارِبٍ حينَ يَشرَبُ

لَها ثَمَنٌ مِن شارِبٍ حينَ يَشرَبُ

And were it not for three things in the cup, there would not be

Were it not for three things in wine, the drinker

A price for it from a drinker when he drinks.

Would not pay it any worth when he does drink

لَها نَزَقُ مِثلُ الجُنونِ وَمَصرَعٌ

لَها نَزَقُ مِثلُ الجُنونِ وَمَصرَعٌ

دَنيءٌ وَأَنَّ العَقلَ يَنأى وَيَعزُبُ

دَنيءٌ وَأَنَّ العَقلَ يَنأى وَيَعزُبُ

It has a recklessness like madness, and a fall

It has the fate of madness, an ignoble end

Ignoble, and the mind withdraws and is lost.

And reason shuns it, turning far away

وَلَولا ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ في الكاسِ أَصبَحَت

وَلَولا ثَلاثٌ هُنَّ في الكاسِ أَصبَحَت

كَأَنفَسِ ما لا يُستَفادُ وَيُطلَبُ

كَأَنفَسِ ما لا يُستَفادُ وَيُطلَبُ

And were it not for three things in the cup, it would become

Were it not for three things in it, wine would be

Like the most precious of what is not acquired and is sought.

Like things of no use, not wanted or sought

إِماتَتُها وَالنَفسُ تُظهِرُ طيبَها

إِماتَتُها وَالنَفسُ تُظهِرُ طيبَها

عَلى حُزنِها وَالهَمُّ يَسلى فَيَذهَبُ

عَلى حُزنِها وَالهَمُّ يَسلى فَيَذهَبُ

Its killing power, while the soul reveals its gladness

Its potent skill to kill care, and the soul

Despite its sorrow, and worry is soothed and so departs.

Shows through its sadness, grief soothed, fades away