خان الشباب وما وَفَّى بما عَهِدا

خان الشباب وما وَفَّى بما عَهِدا

فلا تَثِقْ بحبيبٍ بعدَه أَبَدا

فلا تَثِقْ بحبيبٍ بعدَه أَبَدا

Youth betrayed me and did not keep what he had pledged.

The youth has deserted me, untrue to his word,

So never trust a beloved after him.

So never trust a lover after him, evermore.

قد كنتُ أعهد عزمي في أَوامره

قد كنتُ أعهد عزمي في أَوامره

فما أبالي أَغيّاً خُضت أم رَشَدا

فما أبالي أَغيّاً خُضت أم رَشَدا

I once knew my resolve to be at his command,

I used to be resolute in obeying his commands,

so I cared not whether I plunged into error or right guidance,

Heedless if led rightly or into error.

حتى رأى من جنود الشيب بادرة

حتى رأى من جنود الشيب بادرة

وَلَّى وخَلَّفني في إثْرِها وعَدا

وَلَّى وخَلَّفني في إثْرِها وعَدا

until he saw the first advance of gray hair's troops.

But when he saw the first signs of old age's legions,

He turned away, left me in its wake, and ran.

He turned and deserted me, leaving me behind.

فكُلَّما رُمْتُ نَصْرا منه يَخذُلني

فكُلَّما رُمْتُ نَصْرا منه يَخذُلني

وكلما رمتُ تقريباً له بَعُدا

وكلما رمتُ تقريباً له بَعُدا

So whenever I sought aid from him, he let me down,

Whenever I sought his aid he would fail me,

and whenever I sought to draw him near, he grew distant.

Whenever I tried to draw near he withdrew.

فظلْتُ أَعتب نفسي في محبته

فظلْتُ أَعتب نفسي في محبته

لما رأت كلَّ شيءٍ بعدَه نَكِدا

لما رأت كلَّ شيءٍ بعدَه نَكِدا

So I kept reproaching myself for loving him,

So I chide myself for loving him

for my soul saw everything after him as wretched.

When all I see after him is misery.