دَع الأَيّام تَعزل مَن تَوَلّى

وَلا تَرقب لَه عَهداً وَإِلّا

Let the days abandon whoever turned away

And do not wait for him to keep faith or promise

أَرى عَهد الشَباب الغَضِّ وَلّى

وَما بَقيت مِن اللذّات إِلّا

I see the pact of youth's freshness has declined

And nothing of pleasures remains except

مُحادثة الرِجال ذَوي العُقولِ

فَرِد أَصفى المَناهل سَلسَبيلا

Conversing with men of intellect

So send the purest springs flowing

وَمَع أَهل الفَضائل سَل سَبيلا

فَعاشر مَن وَجَدت بِهم نَبيلا

And with people of virtues seek the way

And be with those you find noble

فَقَد كُنّا نَعدّهمُ قَليلا

وَقَد صاروا أَقَلَّ مِن القَليلِ

For we used to count them few

And now they are fewer than few