Loss [of opportunities] are [a cause of] distress.

Loss [of opportunities] are [a cause of] distress. 16ـ اَلفَوْتُ غُصَصٌ. Opportunity is a booty. 17ـ اَلفُرْصَةُ غُنْمٌ. Loss [of opportunity leads to] burning regrets. 18ـ اَلفَوْتُ حَسَراتٌ مُحْرِقاتٌ. The lost [opportunity] does not return. 19ـ اَلفائِتُ لايَعُودُ. Losing an opportunity is distressful. 20ـ إضاعَةُ الفُرْصَةِ غُصَّةٌ. Times of happiness are short-lived. 21ـ أوْقاتُ السُّرُورِ خُلْسَةٌ. Opportunities pass by like the passing of clouds. 22ـ اَلفُرَصُ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ.

When what you want does not happen, then want what happens [and be satisfied with it]. 23ـ إذا لَمْ يَكُنْ ما تُريدُ فَأَرِدْ ما يَكُونُ. When the opportunity arises, then seize it, for indeed wasting an opportunity leads to distress. 24ـ إذا أمْكَنَتِ الفُرْصَةُ فَانْتَهِزْها، فَإنَّ إضاعَةَ الفُرْصَةِ غُصَّةٌ. Seize good opportunities, for indeed they pass by [quickly] like the passing of clouds. 25ـ اِنْتَهِزُوا فُرَصَ الخَيْرِ فَإنَّها تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ.

The greatest distress is [caused by] loss of opportunities. 26ـ أشَدُّ الغُصَصِ فَوْتُ الفُرَصِ. Verily that which has passed from your day has gone, and that which remains from it is not certain, so take advantage of your [present] time by performing [good] actions. 27ـ إنَّ ماضِيَ يَوْمِكَ مُنْتَقِلٌ، وباقِيَهُ مُتَّهِمٌ، فَاغْتَنِمْ وَقْتَكَ بِالعَمَلِ.

Verily opportunities pass away [quickly] like the clouds, so seize them when they arise in the gates of good, otherwise they will turn into regrets. 28ـ إنَّ الفُرَصَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحابِ فَانْتَهِزُوها إذا أمْكَنَتْ في أبْوابِ الخَيْرِ وَإلاّ عادَتْ نَدَماً. The fruit of loss [of opportunity] is regret. 29ـ ثَمَرَةُ الفَوْتِ نَدامَةٌ. For everything there is a passing away. 30ـ لِكُلِّ شَيْء فَوْتٌ. With loss there is regret. 31ـ مَعَ الفَوْتِ تَكُونُ الحَسْرَةُ.

There is no regret like loss [of an opportunity]. 32ـ لاحَسْرَةَ كَالفَوْتِ. Preparation does not benefit when the time has elapsed. 33ـ لاتَنْفَعُ العُدَّةُ إذا مَا انْقَضَتِ المُدَّةُ. What has passed of your day is lost, what is to come is uncertain; your time is a blessing, so make haste in it while you have the opportunity, and beware of relying on the future. 34ـ ماضي يَوْمِكَ فائِتٌ، وآتيهِ مُتَّهَمْ، ووَقْتُكَ مُغْتَنَمٌ، فَبادِرْ فيهِ فُرْصَةَ الإمْكانِ، وإيّاكَ أنْ تَثِقَ بِالزَّمانِ.