شَبابي فأَضحَى لِلشَّبابِ حَفيظَةً

شَبابي فأَضحَى لِلشَّبابِ حَفيظَةً

لِمَن كانَ عَن طُولِ الغِوايَةِ نازِعا

لِمَن كانَ عَن طُولِ الغِوايَةِ نازِعا

My youth has thus become a source of resentment toward youth,

My youth has become the guardian of youth

for one who was turning away from prolonged folly.

For one who strove against a long delusion.

فَلِلَّهِ ما قَد كانَ بَعدَ ذَهابِهِ

فَلِلَّهِ ما قَد كانَ بَعدَ ذَهابِهِ

وبَعدَ قِناعِ الشَّيبِ ما لَيسَ نافِعا

وبَعدَ قِناعِ الشَّيبِ ما لَيسَ نافِعا

So to God belongs what came after its passing,

So God bless what has passed after its going,

and, after gray hair's veil, what is of no use.

And, grey-haired, what is no longer of use.