Uly, it's a proverb

и "ждут обычно", а не "ждали"

Oh! Thank you

Can you tell me what situation you use it in? Your translation is not familiar to me. Maybe I can give you something that we actually say 😛

OK! It is said when somebody isn't fulfilling their promise. It can be said by both sides - by the person who promised and by the person who was promised.
"Мой сосед обещал дать мне саженец яблони в прошлом году, но до сих пор так и не дал. Ну что ж, обещанного три года ждут". "Я помню, что обещал тебе эту книгу. Не волнуйся, я не забыл, обещанного ведь три года ждут".

OK! Got it :)

👍

Elena, no offense, but I really hope nobody memorizes your example - it's disturbing. 😮

It's fine! I only think "a promise is a promise" doesn't work. Because обещанного три года ждут is always said ironically

Now I’m confused. I was going by your example with the book… If the speaker’s intending to fulfill his promise, then he would say “a promise is a promise.“ is that not what you meant?

But when he says that he is more not promising but justifying himself why he hasn't done it yet as if he says "три года еще не прошло, ничего, подождешь"

Ah!

In that case, there’s nothing special that we say in English. Perhaps something like “Patience is a virtue!“ as a tongue-in-cheek reminder to keep waiting.

https://translate.academic.ru/%D0%9E%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE%20%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8%20%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0%20%D0%B6%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%82/ru/en/

https://proverbs_ru_en.academic.ru/3162/%D0%9E%D0%B1%D0%B5%D1%89%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B8_%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0_%D0%B6%D0%B4%D1%83%D1%82

There is another, more "strong" version:
Обещанного три года ждут (потом забывают)

I think "patience is a virtue" is very good.

I think it lacks irony/sarcasm

I think there is sarcasm, isn't it? Терпение полезно.

- Почему обещанного три года ждут?
- Потому что, согласно ст. 196 ГК РФ, через три года истекает срок давности. 😁
(ст. - статья, ГК РФ - Гражданский кодекс Российской Федерации)

@"I think there is sarcasm, isn't it? "
I don't think so.

https://www.englishclub.com/ref/esl/Sayings/P/Patience_is_a_virtue_905.htm
Possible meaning:
The ability to wait for something without getting angry or upset is a valuable quality in a person.

https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-meaning-of-patience-is-a-virtue

(A) Hey, where's that money you promised me back?
(B) Ugh, I need time to put it together. I'll do it this weekend.
(A) That's what you said last weekend. My patience is wearing thin. You promised!
(B) Oh yeah, well, what can I say... patience is a virtue. I'll do it when I do it.

Well, I guess any serious proverb can be used sarcastically.
"обещанного три года ждут" is inherently not serious, i.e. can't be taken at its face value.

I think in Uly's snippet "patience is a virtue" can be rendered as обещанного три года ждут.

Me too)

You should add this translation👍