إِذا المَرءُ وَفّى الأَربَعينَ وَلَم يَكُن

إِذا المَرءُ وَفّى الأَربَعينَ وَلَم يَكُن

لَه دون ما يَهوى حَياءٌ وَلا سِترُ

لَه دون ما يَهوى حَياءٌ وَلا سِترُ

If a man has reached forty and has no

When a man reaches forty and is still

If a man fulfills his forty years, yet has not found

modesty or veil between him and what he desires,

Unsettled, with no refuge but his whims,

Between him and what he craves, neither shame nor veil,

فَدَعهُ ولآ تَنفَس عَلَيهِ الَّذي أَتى

فَدَعهُ ولآ تَنفَس عَلَيهِ الَّذي أَتى

وَإِن جَرَّ أَذيال الحَياة لَهُ الدَهر

وَإِن جَرَّ أَذيال الحَياة لَهُ الدَهر

then leave him, and do not begrudge him what has come his way,

Leave him; don't waste your breath reproaching one

Then cast him aside, and do not envy what he has gained,

even if time drags out life's trailing hems for him.

Who drags his lifetime's rags in his own trail.

Even if Time drags the trailing hem of life for him.