زمان الصبا هلّا عن الغيّ ناهيا

زمان الصبا هلّا عن الغيّ ناهيا

فترحلُ محمودا وتحمد ثاويا

فترحلُ محمودا وتحمد ثاويا

O time of youth, why were you not a curb on waywardness,

The days of youth, stop leading the young astray

so you might depart praised and be praised while you remain?

So they depart commended and stay praised

صرفت نفوس الناشئين عن العلا

صرفت نفوس الناشئين عن العلا

واوردتهم يمّا من الجهل طاميا

واوردتهم يمّا من الجهل طاميا

You turned the souls of the young away from greatness,

They turn the souls of the youth away from high ambition

and led them into an overflowing sea of ignorance.

And make them wholly immersed in ignorance

لقد كنت عهد الجد لو أبصر الفتى

لقد كنت عهد الجد لو أبصر الفتى

فودع ريّاه وأصبح ساليا

فودع ريّاه وأصبح ساليا

You were indeed a time for earnest striving, had the young man but understood,

You were the era of seriousness, if a young man saw

then bidden farewell to its fragrance and ceased to yearn.

He would bid farewell to foolishness, and become sensible

ومن لم ينل عند الشبيبة حظه

ومن لم ينل عند الشبيبة حظه

من المجد لم يخضع له المجد ثانيا

من المجد لم يخضع له المجد ثانيا

And whoever does not attain in youth his share

He who did not gain his share of glory in his youth

of glory—glory will not yield to him a second time.

Glory will not bow to him again