Literal translation
whoever does not apply a remedy early, the time comes when one weeps
Meaning
delay the remedy and tears will follow
Explanation
This proverb reminds us that a problem neglected while it could still be solved easily always ends up causing greater grief than if it had been dealt with in time. The literal image contrasts two moments: that of the remedy, applied early, while the trouble is still light and manageable, and the later one, when nothing is left but to weep, for want of having acted when it was needed. The proverb functions as a warning against procrastination and neglect, urging one not to postpone what requires prompt intervention, whether an illness, a conflict, or a material difficulty. It is close in spirit to the proverb about the donkey escaping the stable in the same set, both denouncing the mismatch between action and the moment it should have occurred, though this one stresses prevention as the condition for any timely repair. The register is sententious, gladly used by the elders to warn the young against inaction.