kaana asadun kabiirun naa’iman taḥta shajaratinA big lion was sleeping under a tree.
jaa’a fa’run ṣaghiirun warakaḍa ʿalaa ẓahri al-asadiA small mouse came and ran over the lion's back.
istayqaẓa al-asadu waghaḍiba wa’amsaka al-fa’raThe lion woke up, got angry and caught the mouse.
qaala al-fa’ru utruknii yaa malika al-ghaabati wasa’usaaʿiduka yawman maaThe mouse said, "Let me go, king of the forest, and one day I will help you."
ḍaḥika al-asadu wataraka al-fa’raThe lion laughed and let the mouse go.
baʿda ayyaamin waqaʿa al-asadu fii shabakati ṣayyaadinA few days later the lion fell into a hunter's net.
samiʿa al-fa’ru ṣawtahu fajaa’a bisurʿatin waqaraḍa al-ḥibaalaThe mouse heard his voice, came quickly and gnawed the ropes.
kharaja al-asadu ḥurran waqaala shukran anta ṣadiiqun ḥaqiiqiyyunThe lion came out free and said, "Thank you, you are a true friend."
aṣ-ṣaghiiru qad yusaaʿidu al-kabiiraThe small may help the big.