Union with her is better

وصال او ز عمر جاودان به

Union with her is better than eternal life;

خداوندا مرا آن ده که آن به

Lord, give me that which is best.

به شمشیرم زد و با کس نگفتم

She struck me with a sword and I told no one,

که راز دوست از دشمن نهان به

for the Friend's secret is better hidden from the enemy.

به داغ بندگی مردن بر این در

To die at this door with the brand of her servant

به جان او که از ملک جهان به

is better, by her life, than the kingdom of the world.

خدا را از طبیب من بپرسید

For God's sake, ask my physician:

که آخر کی شود این ناتوان به؟

when, at last, will this weak one be better?

گلی کآن پایمال سرو ما گشت

The rose that has been trodden under our cypress's foot:

بود خاکش ز خون ارغوان به

its dust is better than the blood of the Judas tree.

به خلدم دعوت ای زاهد! مفرما

O zahid, do not invite me to paradise,

که این سیب زنخ، زآن بوستان به

for this apple of the chin is better than that orchard.

دلا! دائم گدای کوی او باش

O heart, be forever a beggar in her street,

به حکم آن که دولت جاودان به

for, as they say, a lasting fortune is better.

جوانا! سر متاب از پند پیران

Young man, do not turn your head from the counsel of the old,

که رأی پیر از بخت جوان به

for an old man's judgement is better than young fortune.

شبی می‌گفت چشم کس ندیده‌ست

One night she said, "No one's eye in the world has seen

ز مروارید گوشم در جهان به

anything better than the pearl in my ear."

اگر چه زنده‌رود آب حیات است

Though the Zayandeh Rud is the water of life,

ولی شیراز ما از اصفهان به

our Shiraz is better than Isfahan.

سخن اندر دهان دوست شکر

Words in the Friend's mouth are sugar,

ولیکن گفته حافظ از آن به

but what Hafez has said is better still.