وَإِذا حَلُمتَ فَأَعطِ حِلمَكَ كُنهَهُ

وَإِذا حَلُمتَ فَأَعطِ حِلمَكَ كُنهَهُ

مُستَأنِياً وَإِذا كَوَيتَ فَأَنضِجِ

مُستَأنِياً وَإِذا كَوَيتَ فَأَنضِجِ

And when you show forbearance, give your forbearance its full measure,

When you dream, give your dream its essence

taking your time; and when you cauterize, do it thoroughly.

Ripening slowly. And when you intend, ripen

وَإِذا اِلتَمَستَ دُخولَ أَمرٍ فَاِلتَمَس

وَإِذا اِلتَمَستَ دُخولَ أَمرٍ فَاِلتَمَس

مِن قَبلِ مَدخَلِهِ سَبيلَ المَخرَجِ

مِن قَبلِ مَدخَلِهِ سَبيلَ المَخرَجِ

And when you seek to enter into an undertaking, seek

And when you seek entry into a matter, seek

a way out before entering it.

The way out before the way in.