تفكرْتُ في شيبِ الفتى وَشَبَابِهِ

تفكرْتُ في شيبِ الفتى وَشَبَابِهِ

فأيْقَنْتُ أنَّ الحقَّ بالشِّيبِ واجِبُ

فأيْقَنْتُ أنَّ الحقَّ بالشِّيبِ واجِبُ

I pondered a man’s gray hair and his youth,

I reflected on a young man's gray hair and his youth.

And knew for certain that gray hair’s claim is binding.

So I became certain that gray hair must receive its due.

يُصالِحُني شَرْخُ الشّبابِ فينْقَضي

يُصالِحُني شَرْخُ الشّبابِ فينْقَضي

وشَيْبِي لي حتّى أموتُ مُصاحِبُ

وشَيْبِي لي حتّى أموتُ مُصاحِبُ

The first bloom of youth makes peace with me, then passes,

The prime of youth makes peace with me, then passes away.

But my gray hair remains my companion until I die.

And my gray hair is my companion until I die.