أَعاذِلَ قَد كَبِرتُ عَلى العِتابِ

أَعاذِلَ قَد كَبِرتُ عَلى العِتابِ

وَقَد ضَحِكَ المَشيبُ عَلى الشَبابِ

وَقَد ضَحِكَ المَشيبُ عَلى الشَبابِ

O reproacher, I have grown too old for reproach.

I no longer reproach, for I've grown old for blame

And gray hair has laughed at youth.

And gray hair has laughed in the face of youth

رَدَدتُ إِلى التُقى نَفسي فَقَرَّت

رَدَدتُ إِلى التُقى نَفسي فَقَرَّت

كَما رُدَّ الحُسامُ إِلى القِرابِ

كَما رُدَّ الحُسامُ إِلى القِرابِ

I brought my soul back to piety, and it found rest,

I've returned my soul to piety, so it's grown poor

as the sharp sword is returned to its sheath.

As a sword returned to its sheath

وَمالٍ قَد سَخَوتُ بِهِ وَجاهٍ

وَمالٍ قَد سَخَوتُ بِهِ وَجاهٍ

وَجيهٍ لا يَخافُ أَذى الحِجابِ

وَجيهٍ لا يَخافُ أَذى الحِجابِ

And wealth I have freely given, and the standing

With wealth I was generous, and station

of a dignitary who fears no harm from exclusion.

An eminent man who fears no veil's disdain

وَكَيفَ تُصانُ عَن أَجرٍ وَحَمدٍ

وَكَيفَ تُصانُ عَن أَجرٍ وَحَمدٍ

وُجوهٌ سَوفَ تُبذَلُ لِلتُرابِ

وُجوهٌ سَوفَ تُبذَلُ لِلتُرابِ

And how can they be withheld from reward and praise—

How can faces be protected from reward and praise

faces that will be surrendered to the dust?

When they'll be surrendered to dust again?

وَخَصمٍ موقِدٍ لِشَرارِ شَرٍّ

وَخَصمٍ موقِدٍ لِشَرارِ شَرٍّ

أَمامَ مَعاشِرٍ خُزرٍ غِضابِ

أَمامَ مَعاشِرٍ خُزرٍ غِضابِ

And an adversary, kindling sparks of evil,

A litigious foe of the wickedest wickedness

before groups of glowering, angry people—

Before crowds of angry, scowling men

أُتِحتُ لَهُ فَأَيقَنَ إِذ رَآني

أُتِحتُ لَهُ فَأَيقَنَ إِذ رَآني

بِقانونِ الحُكومَةِ وَالخِطابِ

بِقانونِ الحُكومَةِ وَالخِطابِ

I was pitted against him; when he saw me, he became certain

I complied, so when he saw me, he was sure

of the rules of adjudication and discourse.

Of the law of governance and script