إِذا ما رَأَيتُ السِنَّ لا تعظُ اِمرأً

إِذا ما رَأَيتُ السِنَّ لا تعظُ اِمرأً

قَديماً وَقَد قاسى الأُمورَ وَجَرَّبا

قَديماً وَقَد قاسى الأُمورَ وَجَرَّبا

If I see that age does not admonish a man,

When I see an old man

grown old, who has endured life's affairs and gained experience,

Chastise him not, though he should err;

فَدَعهُ وَما اِستَهوَى عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّهُ

فَدَعهُ وَما اِستَهوَى عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّهُ

ضَعيفٌ وَنَكِّب عَنهُ كَيفَ تَنَكَّبا

ضَعيفٌ وَنَكِّب عَنهُ كَيفَ تَنَكَّبا

then leave him to whatever has beguiled him, for he is

For age and weakness will prevail,

weak; and turn away from him, however he may turn aside.

And storms must break on winter's sea.