ijtamaʿati al-fi’raanu li’anna al-qiṭṭa kaana yukhiifuhaaThe mice gathered because the cat was frightening them.
qaala fa’run ṣaghiirun nuʿalliqu jarasan fii raqabati al-qiṭṭiA small mouse said, "Let's hang a bell around the cat's neck."
fariḥa al-jamiiʿu waqaaluu fikratun raa’iʿatunEveryone was delighted and said, "A wonderful idea!"
qaama fa’run ʿajuuzun wasa’ala waman yuʿalliqu al-jarasaAn old mouse stood up and asked, "And who will hang the bell?"
sakata al-jamiiʿuEveryone fell silent.
lam yajru’ aḥadun ʿalaa aliqtiraabi mina al-qiṭṭiNobody dared to go near the cat.
inṣarafati al-fi’raanu walam tafʿal shay’anThe mice went away and did nothing.
sahlun an naḍaʿa al-khuṭaṭa waṣ-ṣaʿbu an nunaffidhahaaIt is easy to make plans; the hard part is carrying them out.