بادرhasten إلىto كلّevery معروفgood deed همَمتَyou resolved بهupon it
بادر إلى كلّ معروف همَمتَ به
فليسَfor it is not فيat كلevery وقتtime يمكنis possible الكرمgenerosity
فليسَ في كل وقت يمكن الكرم
Hasten to every good deed you have resolved to do.
Hasten to every good deed you intend
For generosity is not possible at every moment.
For generosity is not possible at all times
كمmany a مانعone preventing نفسهhimself إمضاءperforming مكرمةa noble deed
كم مانع نفسه إمضاء مكرمة
عندat the time of التمكّنhaving the means حتىuntil عاقهhindered him العدمpoverty
عند التمكّن حتى عاقه العدم
Many a person has held himself back from performing a noble deed
How often a soul prevents itself from bestowing kindness
While he had the means, until poverty hindered him.
When able, until death stops it
ليسthere is no الندامةregret فيin إمضاءperforming مكرمةٍa noble deed
ليس الندامة في إمضاء مكرمةٍ
بلrather فيin التخلّفholding back عنهاfrom it يحدثarises الندمُregret
بل في التخلّف عنها يحدث الندمُ
Regret does not lie in performing a noble deed;
Regret lies not in carrying out a good deed
Rather, regret arises from failing to do it.
But in holding back from it, regret comes