When a person, wishing for a certain outcome, 
applies themselves where they ought not; 
not achieving what they worked for, 
they say: “That’s a sign of my bad luck.” 

When a misfortune is extracted and beaten, 
to surrender it in part would be like losing at dice; 
but to surrender it all you’d have to be blind, 
not seeing the even and the uneven. 

You should only say what you would do; 
you shouldn’t say what you wouldn’t do. 
The wise will recognize 
one who talks without doing. 

Just like a glorious flower 
that’s colorful but lacks fragrance; 
well-spoken speech is fruitless 
for one who does not act on it. 

Just like a glorious flower 
that’s both colorful and fragrant, 
well-spoken speech is fruitful 
for one who acts on it.