إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَرضَ ما أَمكَنَه

إِذا المَرءُ لَم يَرضَ ما أَمكَنَه

وَلَم يَأتِ مِن أَمرِهِ أَحسَنه

وَلَم يَأتِ مِن أَمرِهِ أَحسَنه

If a man is not content with what is within his reach,

When one is not content with what is possible

and does not take the best course in his affairs,

And does not do his best in his affairs

فَدَعهُ فَقَد ساءَ تَديرُهُ

فَدَعهُ فَقَد ساءَ تَديرُهُ

سَيَضحَكُ يَوماً وَيَبكِي سَنَه

سَيَضحَكُ يَوماً وَيَبكِي سَنَه

then leave him be, for his management is poor:

Leave him be, his management is poor

he will laugh for a day and weep for a year.

One day he will laugh, another he will cry his years away