إِذا كانَت لَكَ اِمرَأَةٌ عَجوزٌ

إِذا كانَت لَكَ اِمرَأَةٌ عَجوزٌ

فَلا تَأخُذ بِها أَبَداً كَعابا

فَلا تَأخُذ بِها أَبَداً كَعابا

If you have an aged wife,

If you have an elderly wife,

never take a nubile maiden in her place.

never take a full-breasted maiden in her place.

فَإِن كانَت أَقَلَّ بَهاءَ وَجهٍ

فَإِن كانَت أَقَلَّ بَهاءَ وَجهٍ

فَأَجدَرُ أَن تَكونَ أَقَلَّ عابا

فَأَجدَرُ أَن تَكونَ أَقَلَّ عابا

For though her face may be less radiant,

For if she is less fair of face,

she is likelier to find less fault.

she is more likely to be less flawed.

وَحُسنُ الشَمسِ في الأَيّامِ باقٍ

وَحُسنُ الشَمسِ في الأَيّامِ باقٍ

وَإِن مَجَّت مِن الكِبَر اللُعابا

وَإِن مَجَّت مِن الكِبَر اللُعابا

And the sun’s beauty endures throughout the days,

And the sun’s beauty endures through the days,

even if in old age she spits out saliva.

even if old age makes her spit out saliva.