laʿibat amiiratun bikuratin dhahabiyyatin qurba bi’rin fasaqaṭat fiihaaA princess played with a golden ball near a well, and it fell into it.
bakat faqaala ḍifdaʿun anaa uḥḍiruhaa in waʿadtinii biṣadaaqatikiShe cried, and a frog said, "I will bring it if you promise me your friendship."
waʿadathu al-amiiratu fa’aḥḍara al-kurataThe princess promised him, and he brought the ball.
akhadhati al-kurata warakaḍat ilaa al-qaṣri wanasiyat waʿdahaaShe took the ball, ran to the palace and forgot her promise.
fii al-masaa’i jaa’a aḍ-ḍifdaʿu ilaa baabi al-qaṣriIn the evening the frog came to the palace door.
qaala al-maliku libnatihi man waʿada yajibu an yafiyaThe king said to his daughter, "Whoever makes a promise must keep it."
akala aḍ-ḍifdaʿu maʿahaa waṣaarat tuḥibbuhu liṭiibatihiThe frog ate with her, and she came to like him for his kindness.
faj’atan taḥawwala aḍ-ḍifdaʿu ilaa amiirin wasiimin wakaana saaḥirun qad saḥarahuSuddenly the frog turned into a handsome prince; a sorcerer had cast a spell on him.
al-waʿdu daynunA promise is a debt.