Happy are we that our youth has not shamed our old age (that our past was clean)
We are happy that we did not commit shameful acts in our youth—acts that could embarrass us now as adults.
(The Rabbis taught: Some say, 'Happy are we that our youth has not shamed our old age'—these are the pious and men of deed, and some say, 'Happy are we that our old age has atoned for our youth'—these are the penitents. Both say: 'Happy is he who has not sinned, and he who has sinned, let him repent and he will be forgiven.' - Sukkah 53a)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
אַשְׁרֵי יַלְדוּתֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא בִּיְּשָׁה זִקְנָתֵנוּ
Definition (Hebrew)
מְאֻשָּׁרִים אָנוּ עַל שֶׁלֹּא עָשִׂינוּ מַעֲשִׂים מְבִישִׁים בִּצְעִירוּתֵנוּ, מַעֲשִׂים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם לְבַיֵּשׁ אוֹתָנוּ כָּעֵת כְּשֶׁאֲנַחְנוּ בּוֹגְרִים.
("תַּנּוּ רַבָּנָן: יֵשׁ מֵהֶן אוֹמְרִים אַשְׁרֵי יַלְדוּתֵנוּ שֶׁלֹּא בִּיְּשָׁהּ אֶת זִקְנוּתֵנוּ - אֵלּוּ חֲסִידִים וְאַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֶׂה, וְיֵשׁ מֵהֶן אוֹמְרִים אַשְׁרֵי זִקְנוּתֵנוּ שֶׁכִּפְּרָה אֶת יַלְדוּתֵנוּ-אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי תְּשׁוּבָה. אֵלּוּ וְאֵלּוּ אוֹמְרִים אַשְׁרֵי מֵי שֶׁלֹּא חָטָא, וּמִי שֶׁחָטָא יָשׁוּב וְיִמָּחֵל לוֹ"-סֻכָּה נג ע"א)