أَلا إِنَّ أَخلاقَ الفَتى كَزَمانِهِ

أَلا إِنَّ أَخلاقَ الفَتى كَزَمانِهِ

فَمِنهُنَّ بيضٌ في العُيونِ وَسودُ

فَمِنهُنَّ بيضٌ في العُيونِ وَسودُ

Behold, a young man's traits are like his times:

Alas! A young man's morals are like his days

Some appear white to the eyes, and others black.

Some white in the eyes, some blackened

وَتَأكُلُنا أَيّامُنا فَكَأَنَّما

وَتَأكُلُنا أَيّامُنا فَكَأَنَّما

تَمُرُّ بِنا الساعاتُ وَهيَ أُسودُ

تَمُرُّ بِنا الساعاتُ وَهيَ أُسودُ

And our days devour us, so it is as though

Our days consume us as if

The hours passing us by were lions.

The hours pass by us darkened

وَقَد يَخمُلُ الإِنسانُ في عُنفُوانِهِ

وَقَد يَخمُلُ الإِنسانُ في عُنفُوانِهِ

وَينَبَهُ مِن بَعدِ النُهى فَيَسودُ

وَينَبَهُ مِن بَعدِ النُهى فَيَسودُ

A person may remain obscure in his prime,

And a man may slip in his prime

And gain renown after attaining wisdom, then become a leader.

And awake later, chastened

فَلا تَحسُدَن يَوماً عَلى فَضلِ نِعمَةٍ

فَلا تَحسُدَن يَوماً عَلى فَضلِ نِعمَةٍ

فَحَسبُكَ عاراً أَن يُقالَ حَسودُ

فَحَسبُكَ عاراً أَن يُقالَ حَسودُ

So never envy anyone for an abundance of blessings;

So never envy for a moment, another's bounty

For it is shame enough for you to be called envious.

To be called envious is shame enough