jaa’a rajulun ilaa al-ghaabati waqaala lil-ashjaari uriidu qiṭʿata khashabin ṣaghiiratanA man came to the forest and said to the trees, "I want a small piece of wood."
qaalati al-ashjaaru khudh maa turiiduThe trees said, "Take what you want."
ṣanaʿa minhaa yadan lifa’sihiHe made a handle for his axe out of it.
bada’a yaqṭaʿu akbara al-ashjaari bil-fa’siHe began to cut the biggest trees with the axe.
qaalat shajaratun ḥakiimatun naḥnu aʿṭaynaahu al-yada faqaṭaʿanaa bihaaA wise tree said, "We gave him the handle, and he cut us down with it!"
laa tuʿin ʿalaa nafsika ʿaduwwanDo not help an enemy against yourself.