فَقَدتُ شَبابي وَهوَ لي خَير صاحب

فَقَدتُ شَبابي وَهوَ لي خَير صاحب

وَصاحَبتُ شَيبي كارِهاً وَهوَ لي ضدُّ

وَصاحَبتُ شَيبي كارِهاً وَهوَ لي ضدُّ

I lost my youth, which was my best companion.

I lost my youth when it was my best companion

And unwillingly kept company with my gray hair, which is my foe.

And befriended my old age unwillingly though it is my foe

وَمِن نَكدِ الدُنيا عَلى الحرّ أن يَرى

وَمِن نَكدِ الدُنيا عَلى الحرّ أن يَرى

عَدوّاً لَهُ ما مِن صَداقته بُدُّ

عَدوّاً لَهُ ما مِن صَداقته بُدُّ

And among this world's vexations for a noble man is to see

It is the misery of this life that the free man should see

An enemy he has no choice but to befriend.

An enemy of his when he has no choice but friendship