إِذا هَبَّت رِياحُكَ فَاِغتَنِمها

فَعُقبى كُلُّ خافِقَةٍ سُكونُ

When the winds of fortune favor you, seize them as they blow,

If your winds blow, then seize the opportunity,

For after every tempest comes a calm.

For the aftermath of every gust is stillness.

وَلا تَغفَل عَنِ الإِحسانِ فيها

فَما تَدري السُكونُ مَتى يَكونُ

Neglect not kindness during prosperous days,

And do not neglect doing good while they last,

You know not when calms may end and storms begin.

For you never know when the stillness will strike.

وَإِن دَرَّت نِياقُكَ فَاِحتَلِبها

فَما تَدري الفَصيلُ لِمَن يَكونُ

If the reins of good luck fall into your hands, grasp them tight,

And if your she-camels flow with milk, then milk them,

Who knows to whom fortune’s steed may later run?

For you do not know to whom the young calf will belong.

إِذا ظَفِرَت يَداكَ فَلا تَقصِّر

فَإِنَّ الدَهرَ عادَتَهُ يَخونُ

When success is yours, do not fall short in zeal,

If your hands grasp victory, do not hold back,

For fortune is accustomed to betraying men.

For it is the habit of Time to betray.