ولَّى الشَّبابُ وكنتَ تَسكنُ ظِلَّهُ

ولَّى الشَّبابُ وكنتَ تَسكنُ ظِلَّهُ

فانظُرْ لنفسِكَ أيَّ ظِلٍّ تسكُنُ

فانظُرْ لنفسِكَ أيَّ ظِلٍّ تسكُنُ

Youth has departed, and you once dwelt in its shade.

Youth has departed, while you dwelt in its shade

So consider for yourself: in what shade will you dwell?

Consider for yourself, which shade will you dwell in

ونَهَى المَشيبُ عن الصِّبا لو أنَّهُ

ونَهَى المَشيبُ عن الصِّبا لو أنَّهُ

يُدْلي بحُجَّتهِ إلى مَن يَلْقَنُ

يُدْلي بحُجَّتهِ إلى مَن يَلْقَنُ

And gray hair has forbidden youthful folly—if only it

And old age prohibited youth, if only it

Were making its case to one who understands.

Could argue its case to whom it lectures