لنا مشرب عذب يجل عن الشكر

يعود خمارا عنده لذة الخمر

We have a sweet draught beyond all thanks;

Beside it, the pleasure of wine becomes a hangover.

يهذب ألباب الندامى رحيقه

اذا حلّ في بيت الحجا زاد في الحجر

Its nectar refines the minds of drinking companions;

When it dwells in the house of reason, it deepens understanding.

يدار علينا في كؤوس لطيفة

ارقّ وأندى من شذا نسمة الفجر

It is passed around to us in delicate cups,

Finer and dewier than the fragrance of dawn's breeze.

تباشر أفواه الندامى وانها

عن العين والايدى من اللطف فى ستر

They touch the drinking companions' mouths, yet they are

Veiled from eyes and hands by their subtlety.

اذا أنا عاطتنى السقاة كؤوسه

فكم من نديم رائق الوصف فى سرّي

When the cupbearers hand me its cups,

Then how many a companion of lovely qualities is within my innermost heart!

ينزهتا من ذاته فى صفاته

على أنها أبهى من الزُهر والزَهر

[Perhaps: he takes us wandering] from his essence among his attributes,

Though they are more splendid than the bright stars and flowers.

ترى الخمر تهوى للحشى عند شربها

ومشروبنا يرقى الى موضع الفكر

You see wine descend into the belly when drunk,

While our drink rises to the seat of thought.

اذا شربوا مالا يزول سروره

ولكنه يبقى الى آخر الدهر

When they drink that whose joy never fades,

But instead lasts until the end of time,

نعمنا به في مجلس تم حسنه

وجل فقال الناس ذا مجلس الذكر

We delighted in it at a gathering perfect in beauty

And sublime; so people said, 'This is a gathering of remembrance.'

تنوع أرباب النُهى فى مديحه

فيا حسن ما فيه من النظم والنثر

The masters of understanding varied their praise of it;

Oh, how lovely the verse and prose within it!

تنادم فيه الشَرب باللطف والوف

منادمة جلّت عن الهَجر والهجر

The drinkers there kept company with gentleness and [perhaps fidelity],

A companionship exalted above estrangement and foul speech.

وراحوا وقد زكى الشراب عقولهم

وقد أبدلوا سكر المدامة بالشكر

And they departed, the drink having purified their minds,

And they had exchanged wine's intoxication for gratitude.