ʿaashat arbaʿatu thiiraanin fii marʿana waaḥidin wakaanuu aṣdiqaa’aFour oxen lived in one meadow, and they were friends.
kaana asadun yuriidu an ya’kulahum laakinnahum kaanuu yaqifuuna maʿan ẓahran ilaa ẓahrinA lion wanted to eat them, but they stood together back to back.
lam yajru’i al-asadu ʿalaa aliqtiraabiThe lion did not dare to come near.
fakkara al-asadu fii ḥiilatin waqaala liwaaḥidin minhum al-’aakharuuna yatakallamuuna ʿanka bisuu’inThe lion thought of a trick and said to one of them, "The others speak badly about you."
ṣaddaqa ath-thawru waabtaʿada ghaaḍiban thumma faʿala al-’aakharuuna mithlahuThe ox believed him and moved away angrily, and then the others did the same.
ṣaara kullu thawrin waḥdahu fa’akalahumu al-asadu waaḥidan baʿda waaḥidinEach ox was alone, and the lion ate them one after another.
alittiḥaadu quwwatun wat-tafarruqu ḍaʿfunUnity is strength and division is weakness.