كانَ الشَّبابُ كَخِضاب قَد نَصَل

كانَ الشَّبابُ كَخِضاب قَد نَصَل

وَاِبتَزَّه الشَّيبُ محلّا فَنَزَل

وَاِبتَزَّه الشَّيبُ محلّا فَنَزَل

Youth was like dye that had faded.

Youth was like dyed hair well-combed

And gray hair robbed it of its dwelling and settled there.

And old age pulled it out, replacing it

فَأزعج الشَّيبُ الشَّبابَ فَاِرتَحَل

فَأزعج الشَّيبُ الشَّبابَ فَاِرتَحَل

إِزعاجُك العِيسَ بِحاءِ وَبِحَل

إِزعاجُك العِيسَ بِحاءِ وَبِحَل

So gray hair drove youth away, and it departed,

So old age disturbed youth and it departed

As you drive the white camels with cries of 'ḥāʾ' and 'ḥal.'

Your disturbance of joy with sadness and affliction

وَالشَّيب داء قاتِل وَإِن مَطَل

وَالشَّيب داء قاتِل وَإِن مَطَل

مُعَجِّل بِالمَوتِ من قبل الأَجَل

مُعَجِّل بِالمَوتِ من قبل الأَجَل

And gray hair is a deadly disease, even if it delays,

And old age is a killing disease even if prolonged

Hastening death before the appointed time.

Hastening death before its time