إِذا حاجَةٌ وَلَّتكَ لَيسَ تَسطيعُها

إِذا حاجَةٌ وَلَّتكَ لَيسَ تَسطيعُها

فَخُذ طَرَفاً مِن حاجَةٍ لَيسَ تُسبَقُ

فَخُذ طَرَفاً مِن حاجَةٍ لَيسَ تُسبَقُ

If a goal turns its back on you and you cannot attain it,

When a need turns you away, beyond your reach,

Then take a part of a goal in which you are not outstripped.

Take instead some smaller need you can overtake.

فَذَلِكَ أَحرى أَن تَنالَ جَسيمَها

فَذَلِكَ أَحرى أَن تَنالَ جَسيمَها

وَلَلقَصدُ أَبقى في الأُمورِ وَأَرفَقُ

وَلَلقَصدُ أَبقى في الأُمورِ وَأَرفَقُ

For that makes you likelier to attain its greater part;

For that is best if you're to gain the most of it,

And surely moderation is more enduring in affairs, and gentler.

Since moderation is best in all affairs, and gentlest.