What is sweeter than this?

خوش‌تر ز عیش و صحبت و باغ و بهار چیست؟

What is sweeter than pleasure and company, the garden and the spring?

ساقی کجاست؟ گو سبب انتظار چیست؟

Where is the saqi? Ask him, why this waiting?

هر وقت خوش که دست دهد، مغتنم شمار

Every good moment that comes to hand, count it as a gift:

کس را وقوف نیست که انجام کار چیست

no one knows how things will end.

پیوند عمر بسته به مویی‌ست، هوش دار

The thread of life is tied to a single hair: take care.

غمخوار خویش باش، غم روزگار چیست؟

Be your own comforter: what is the grief of the world to you?

معنی آب زندگی و روضه ارم

What is the meaning of the water of life and the garden of Eram

جز طرف جویبار و می خوشگوار چیست؟

but the bank of a stream and wine that goes down sweetly?

مستور و مست هر دو چو از یک قبیله‌اند

Since the sober and the drunk are both of one tribe,

ما دل به عشوه که دهیم؟ اختیار چیست؟

to whose charms should we give our hearts? What choice is there?

راز درون پرده چه داند فلک؟ خموش

What does the sky know of the secret behind the veil? Be silent,

ای مدعی! نزاع تو با پرده‌دار چیست؟

O pretender! What is your quarrel with the keeper of the veil?

سهو و خطای بنده گرش اعتبار نیست

If the servant's lapses and errors did not count,

معنی عفو و رحمت آمرزگار چیست؟

what would be the meaning of the Forgiver's pardon and mercy?

زاهد شراب کوثر و حافظ پیاله خواست

The zahid asked for the wine of Kawthar, and Hafez for the cup:

تا در میانه خواسته کردگار چیست

let us see which, between the two, the Creator wills.