1. You were a newborn that I nourished, and a youth that I raised,
You learn from what I bend over you and drink from me,

2. If a night comes upon you complaining, I do not refuse your complaints, staying up restless,
It's as if it is I who is stricken instead of you with what you are stricken with, so my eyes tear up,

3. My soul fears harm upon you, though I know death is an ordained fate,
So when you reached the age and point to which I had hoped for you,

4. You made my reward harshness and vulgarity, as if you are the benefactor and bestower,
If only when you did not heed the rights of my fatherhood, you had acted as a neighbour would have acted,

5. You claimed I grew old and tired, yet sixty summers have not passed me by,
And you named me one whose opinion is refuted, though if you were reasonable, you would not refute,

6. You watch for a misstep from me, or imagine one - you raved, and this opinion of yours is misleading,
And yet by keeping a refuge for my body, in your opinion I am still a heedless youth,

7. The fierce lope and danger of the meek truth, if you ever lope, are the stumbles of a tottering old fool,
You see it ready to disagree, as if it is assigned to refute the people of truth,

8. But one who does not find a matter befitting him with his arms descends into it while unarmed,