إِن خَرِفَ الدَهرُ فَهوَ شَيخٌ

يُحَقُّ بِالهَترِ وَالزَمانَه

If time has turned grey, it is an old man

Who deserves confusion and forgetfulness

أَضحى سَليماً بِغَيرِ داءٍ

لَم تَبدُ في شَخصِهِ ضَمانَه

He has become healthy without illness

No guarantee has appeared in his persona

إِن قالَتِ الشُهبُ نَحنُ رَهطٌ

أَقدَمُ مِنهُ فَهُنَّ مانَه

If the stars say we are older company

Then they are his guarantee

أَعجَمُ قَد بَيَّنَ الرَزايا

أَو جَعَلَ الشَرَّ تَرجُمانَه

A foreigner has made clear the secrets

Or made evil his interpreter

فَأَودِعنَ فاتِكاً حَصاةً

وَأودِعَن ناسِكاً جُمانَه

So entrust a libertine with pebbles

And entrust an ascetic with worry beads

كِلاهُما لَيسَ بِالمُؤَدّي

إِلَيكَ في المودَعِ الأَمانَه

Neither of them will deliver to you

The entrusted deposit of security