حقِّرْbelittle لَهاto her ماwhat فيin يَديْهاher hands بَدْأةًat the outset
حقِّرْ لَها ما في يَديْها بَدْأةً
واضْمَنْand guarantee لَهاto her عِوَضاًrecompense وإنْand even if لمْnot يَحْضُرِbe at hand
واضْمَنْ لَها عِوَضاً وإنْ لمْ يَحْضُرِ
At the outset, make what she holds seem paltry to her;
First, make what she holds in her hands seem paltry to her.
and guarantee her recompense, though it is not yet at hand.
And guarantee her recompense, even if it is not at hand.
وارْبَأْand hold aloof بنَفْسِكَwith yourself عنْfrom تسامُحِleniency بائِعٍa seller
وارْبَأْ بنَفْسِكَ عنْ تسامُحِ بائِعٍ
واغْنَمْand seize the gain إذاwhen سامَتْكَshe bargains with you شهْوَةَeagerness مُشْتَريa buyer
واغْنَمْ إذا سامَتْكَ شهْوَةَ مُشْتَري
Hold yourself above a seller’s easy concessions,
And hold yourself above a seller's leniency.
and profit when a buyer’s appetite bids for you.
And seize the gain when she bargains with you with a buyer's eagerness.
