جَامٌ بَدِيعٌ يُسَلِّي الْمَرْءَ بِالنَّظَرِ

وَلَوْ غَدَا قَلْبُهُ أقْسَى مِنَ الْحَجَرِ

A beautiful cup that delights the soul with a glance

An exquisite goblet that delights a person merely by the sight of it,

Even if one's heart were harder than stone

Even if his heart had grown harder than stone.

يُنْشِي بِبَهْجَتِهِ وَحُسْنِ صَنْعَتِهِ

أَضْعَافَ أَنْشَاءِ مَا يَحْوِيهِ مِنْ سَكَرِ

It kindles, with its elegance and artistry

It brings about, through its splendor and the beauty of its craftsmanship,

Far greater raptures than the wine within contains

Manifold the intoxication of the wine it holds.

فَالشُّرْبُ مِنْهُ لِذِي ذَوْقٍ وَذِي نَظَرِ

يَكْسِبُ زَهْوَيْنِ زَهْوَ النَّفْسِ وَالْبَصَرِ

Drinking from it, for one of taste and insight

Thus, drinking from it, for the one possessed of taste and vision,

Gains a twofold rapture of spirit and of sight

Yields a double delight: the joy of the soul and the joy of the eye.

يَحْكِي وَقَدْ رُصِعَتْ شَمْسُ اللُّجَيْنِ بِهِ

شَمْسَ الضُّحَى انْطَبَعَتْ في صَفْحَةِ الْقَمَرِ

It tells, now that the suns of both worlds gleam in it

It mimics, when a sun of silver is inlaid within it,

The sun of dawn imprinted on the page of the moon

The morning sun imprinted upon the surface of the moon.

حَتَّى إِذَا انْعَكَسَ الْوَجْهُ الْبَهِيُّ بِهِ

مُمْتَلِئاً كَسَفَتْ مِنْ شَدَّةِ الْخَفَرِ

Until, as that fair face is mirrored in its sheen

Until, when the radiant face is reflected within it,

Brimming over, the stars themselves grow dim

While it is full, it eclipses out of deep modesty.

فَانْعَمْ بِهِ وَتَأَمَّلْ فِي بَدَائِعِهِ

وَاشْكُرْ لِمُبْعِدِهِ فِي الْوَرْدِ وَالصَّدَرِ

So delight in it, admire its wonders

So take pleasure in it and contemplate its wondrous features,

And thank its Maker for this rose and breast

And give thanks to its maker at every coming and going.

فَالشُّرْبُ فِيهِ لِذِي ذَوْقٍ وَذِي بَصَرِ

يُكْسِبُ سُكْرَيْنِ سُكْرَ الشُّرْبِ وَالنَّظَرِ

Drinking from it, for one who can taste and see

For drinking from it, for the one possessed of taste and sight,

Gains a twofold drunkenness of wine and imagery

Grants a double intoxication: the rapture of the drink and the rapture of the gaze.