«مَا يِنْفَعَكْ إِلَّا عِجْلْ بَقَرْتَكْ»

The saying claims that dependable benefit comes only from one's own holdings. The calf born to your own cow is a figurative picture of personal property in general: what is yours can be drawn on, while anything held by someone else, or merely promised, cannot be counted on in the same way.

In practice it serves as advice toward self-reliance and toward valuing what one already has. It also quietly cautions against leaning on neighbours, patrons, or outside support that may fail when it is most needed.

Fits moments when someone should rely on their own means instead of waiting on others, or has just learned that outside help was unreliable. It works best as plain, practical advice rather than a rebuke.