إذَاif لَمْnot تُطِقْyou can bear للخُطُوبِin facing calamities اصْطِباراpatient endurance
إذَا لَمْ تُطِقْ للخُطُوبِ اصْطِبارا
فَلاthen do not تَقْرَبَنَّever approach الأُمورَthe affairs الْكِباراgreat
فَلا تَقْرَبَنَّ الأُمورَ الْكِبارا
If you cannot patiently endure grave trials,
If you cannot patiently endure calamities,
then never venture upon great undertakings.
then never approach great affairs.
وَعِبْءُand the burden الرّئاسَةِof leadership إنْif كُنْتَyou are لاَnot
وَعِبْءُ الرّئاسَةِ إنْ كُنْتَ لاَ
تَنُوءُyou rise بِهِunder it فاطَّرِحْهُthen cast it off جِهاراopenly
تَنُوءُ بِهِ فاطَّرِحْهُ جِهارا
As for the burden of leadership, if you cannot
And the burden of leadership—if you cannot
shoulder it, cast it off openly.
bear it, then cast it off openly.
ولاand do not تَعْجَزنَّever falter لِذاfor this قُدْرَةٌpower
ولا تَعْجَزنَّ لِذا قُدْرَةٌ
ولاَand do not تَجْزَعَنْever lose heart إنif فَقَدْتَyou lose اقْتِداراability
ولاَ تَجْزَعَنْ إن فَقَدْتَ اقْتِدارا
Do not falter at this while strength remains,
And never falter when you have the power for it,
nor despair if you lose your power.
and never lose heart if you lose your ability.
