أَهلاً وَسَهلاً بِالمَشيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

أَهلاً وَسَهلاً بِالمَشيبِ فَإِنَّهُ

سِمَةُ العَفيفِ وَحِليَةُ المُتَحَرِّجِ

سِمَةُ العَفيفِ وَحِليَةُ المُتَحَرِّجِ

A warm welcome to gray hair, for it is

Welcome gray hair, for it is

the mark of the chaste and the adornment of the scrupulous.

The mark of dignity, the ornament of modesty.

وَكَأَنَّ شَيبي نَظمُ دُرٍّ زاهِرٍ

وَكَأَنَّ شَيبي نَظمُ دُرٍّ زاهِرٍ

في تاجِ ذي مُلكٍ أَغَرَّ مُتَوَّجِ

في تاجِ ذي مُلكٍ أَغَرَّ مُتَوَّجِ

And my gray hair is like a string of radiant pearls

My gray hair is like strands of gleaming pearls

in the crown of a resplendent, crowned sovereign.

In the crown of a wise king.

لا شَيءَ أَحسَنُ مِن مَشيبٍ وافِدٍ

لا شَيءَ أَحسَنُ مِن مَشيبٍ وافِدٍ

بِالحِلمِ مُختَرِمِ الشَبابِ الأَهوَجِ

بِالحِلمِ مُختَرِمِ الشَبابِ الأَهوَجِ

Nothing is lovelier than gray hair that arrives

Nothing is finer than gray locks

with forbearance, cutting short reckless youth.

With wisdom, taming reckless youth.

ضَيفٌ أَحَلَّ بي النُهى فَقَرَيتُهُ

ضَيفٌ أَحَلَّ بي النُهى فَقَرَيتُهُ

رَفضَ الغَوايَةِ وَاِقتِصادَ المَنهَجِ

رَفضَ الغَوايَةِ وَاِقتِصادَ المَنهَجِ

A guest who made reason dwell in me; so I offered him as fare

A guest who brought me maturity, I hosted him

renunciation of waywardness and moderation in my course.

Refusing temptation, following the middle path.