إِيّاكَ وَالمَطلَ أَن تُقارِفَهُ

إِيّاكَ وَالمَطلَ أَن تُقارِفَهُ

فَإِنَّهُ آفَةٌ لِكُلِّ يَدِ

فَإِنَّهُ آفَةٌ لِكُلِّ يَدِ

Beware delay, lest you commit it;

Beware of indulging in delay,

for it is the bane of every kindness.

For it is a blight on every kindness.

إِذا مَطَلتَ اِمرَأً بِحاجَتِهِ

إِذا مَطَلتَ اِمرَأً بِحاجَتِهِ

فَاِمضِ عَلى مَطلِهِ وَلا تَحِدِ

فَاِمضِ عَلى مَطلِهِ وَلا تَحِدِ

If you put a man off over what he needs,

If you put a man off over his need,

then persist in delaying him, and do not desist;

Then keep putting him off, and do not change course;

فَلَستَ تَلقاهُ شاكِراً لِيَدٍ

فَلَستَ تَلقاهُ شاكِراً لِيَدٍ

قَد كَدَّها المَطلُ آخرَ الأَبَدِ

قَد كَدَّها المَطلُ آخرَ الأَبَدِ

for you will never find him grateful for a favor

For you will not find him grateful for a kindness

that delay has worn threadbare, to the end of time.

That delay has marred—not even at the end of time.