كَفاكَ الشَيبُ هَمَّ العَذلِ فَاِقبَل

كَفاكَ الشَيبُ هَمَّ العَذلِ فَاِقبَل

ضَمانَ الشَيبِ عَنّي في القبولِ

ضَمانَ الشَيبِ عَنّي في القبولِ

Gray hair has spared you the burden of reproach, so accept

Gray hair is reproach enough, no more disdain!

Gray hair's guarantee, on my behalf, that I will heed.

Accept my gray hair’s pledge, and be not so vain.

فَإِنَّ الشَيبَ أَكبَرُ مِن عَذولٍ

فَإِنَّ الشَيبَ أَكبَرُ مِن عَذولٍ

وَمَن قاسَ النَذيرَ إِلى العَذولِ

وَمَن قاسَ النَذيرَ إِلى العَذولِ

For gray hair is greater than a reprover—

Gray hair is weightier than the flighty youth;

And who would compare the warner with the reprover?

To match gray hair with callowness is uncouth.

فَيالَكَ مِن نُجومٍ لا أُفولٌ

فَيالَكَ مِن نُجومٍ لا أُفولٌ

لَها عَنّي وَتُخبِرُ عَن أُفولي

لَها عَنّي وَتُخبِرُ عَن أُفولي

Oh, what stars, never setting

Woe to you, stars that never fade or fall!

Away from me, yet telling of my own setting.

You judge me, while my own gray hair foretells my fall.