إِذا حاجَةٌ وَلَّتكَ لا تَستَطيعُها

إِذا حاجَةٌ وَلَّتكَ لا تَستَطيعُها

فَخُذ طَرَفاً مِن غَيرِها حينَ تُسبَقُ

فَخُذ طَرَفاً مِن غَيرِها حينَ تُسبَقُ

If a need turns its back on you and you cannot fulfill it,

If an aim turns its back on you and you cannot attain it,

then take a portion of something else when you are forestalled.

then take up some part of another when you are outstripped.

فَذَلِكَ أَحرى أَن تَنالَ جَسيمَها

فَذَلِكَ أَحرى أَن تَنالَ جَسيمَها

وَلَلقَصدُ أَبقى في المَسيرِ وأَلحَقُ

وَلَلقَصدُ أَبقى في المَسيرِ وأَلحَقُ

For leaving it aside makes you likelier to attain the greater part of it;

For thus you are likelier to attain its greater part;

a measured pace lasts longer on the journey and is surer to catch up.

and surely a measured pace lasts longer on the journey and is likelier to catch up.