دعْ ما نَهى الشّيبُ والسبعونَ عنه فَتِر

دعْ ما نَهى الشّيبُ والسبعونَ عنه فَتِر

بَاكَ الصّبا والشّبابُ الغضُّ قد دَرجَا

بَاكَ الصّبا والشّبابُ الغضُّ قد دَرجَا

Leave what gray hair and seventy years have forbidden; desist.

Leave what gray hair and seventy years forbid, for

Boyhood and tender youth have mourned you; both have passed away.

your two peers, youth and tender young manhood, have passed away.

واعتَضْتَ من فَتْكِ أخدانِ الصّبا وَرَعاً

واعتَضْتَ من فَتْكِ أخدانِ الصّبا وَرَعاً

ومن جَهَالةِ أيامِ الشّبابِ حِجى

ومن جَهَالةِ أيامِ الشّبابِ حِجى

You have traded the deadly onslaughts of youth’s beloveds for piety,

And you have exchanged the recklessness of youth's companions for piety,

and the folly of youth’s days for sound judgment.

and the folly of youth's days for wisdom.

عُذِرتَ إذ جُرتَ في ليلِ الشبابِ فَهَلْ

عُذِرتَ إذ جُرتَ في ليلِ الشبابِ فَهَلْ

عُذرٌ وشَيبُك قد أذكى لكَ السُّرُجَا

عُذرٌ وشَيبُك قد أذكى لكَ السُّرُجَا

You were excused when you strayed in the night of youth—but is there

You were excused when you strayed in youth's night; but is there

any excuse, when your gray hair has kindled lamps for you?

any excuse, now that your gray hair has lit the lamps for you?

وما أساءت بك الأيامُ إذ جَعلتْ

وما أساءت بك الأيامُ إذ جَعلتْ

فَودَيك دُرّاً وكانا قبلَه سَبَجَا

فَودَيك دُرّاً وكانا قبلَه سَبَجَا

The days have done you no wrong in making

And the days did not wrong you when they turned

your two temples pearls, when once they were jet.

your two sidelocks to pearls, though before they were jet.