kaanat balluuṭatun ḍakhmatun taqifu bijaanibi an-nahriA huge oak tree stood beside the river.
wakaanat bijaanibihaa qaṣabatun rafiiʿatunAnd beside it was a thin reed.
qaalati al-balluuṭatu anaa qawiyyatun wa’anti ḍaʿiifatunThe oak said, "I am strong and you are weak."
habbat riiḥun shadiidatun faanḥanati al-qaṣabatu walam tankasirA strong wind blew, and the reed bent but did not break.
ammaa al-balluuṭatu fawaqafat biʿinaadinBut the oak stood there stubbornly.
izdaadati ar-riiḥu quwwatan fasaqaṭati al-balluuṭatu fii an-nahriThe wind grew stronger, and the oak fell into the river.
qaalati al-qaṣabatu al-muruunatu aḥyaanan aqwaa mina al-quwwatiThe reed said, "Flexibility is sometimes stronger than force."