kharaja juḥaa waabnuhu ilaa as-suuqi wamaʿahumaa ḥimaarunJuha and his son went out to the market with a donkey.
mashayaa bijaanibi al-ḥimaari faqaala an-naasu maa aghbaahumaa ʿindahumaa ḥimaarun walaa yarkabaanihiThey walked beside the donkey, and people said, "How foolish! They have a donkey and don't ride it!"
rakiba juḥaa al-ḥimaara faqaala an-naasu yaa laka min abin qaasin tatruku abnaka yamshiiJuha rode the donkey, and people said, "What a cruel father! You let your son walk!"
nazala juḥaa warakiba alibnu faqaala an-naasu maa aqalla adabahu yarkabu wa’abuuhu yamshiiJuha got down and the son rode, and people said, "How rude! He rides while his father walks!"
rakibaa maʿan faqaala an-naasu maa aqsaahumaa ʿalaa al-ḥimaariThey rode together, and people said, "How cruel they are to the donkey!"
ḥamalaa al-ḥimaara ʿalaa aktaafihimaa faḍaḥika kullu man ra’aahumaaThey carried the donkey on their shoulders, and everyone who saw them laughed.
qaala juḥaa lan turḍiya an-naasa mahmaa faʿaltaJuha said, "You will never please people, whatever you do."