amsaka rajulun ʿuṣfuuran ṣaghiiran faqaala al-ʿuṣfuuru aṭliqnii wasa’uʿallimuka thalaatha naṣaa’iḥaA man caught a small sparrow, and the sparrow said, "Let me go and I will teach you three pieces of advice."
qaala ar-rajulu qul awwalanThe man said, "Tell me first."
qaala al-ʿuṣfuuru laa tandam ʿalaa maa faataThe sparrow said, "Do not regret what has passed."
walaa tuṣaddiq maa laa yuʿqalu"And do not believe what makes no sense."
walaa tuḥaawil maa laa tastaṭiiʿu"And do not attempt what you cannot do."
aṭlaqahu ar-rajulu faṭaara al-ʿuṣfuuru ilaa shajaratin waqaala fii jawfii lu’lu’atun kabiiratunThe man let him go, and the sparrow flew to a tree and said, "Inside me there is a big pearl!"
nadima ar-rajulu waḥaawala an yaṣʿada ash-shajarata liyumsikahu fasaqaṭaThe man regretted it and tried to climb the tree to catch it, and he fell.
ḍaḥika al-ʿuṣfuuru nasiita naṣaa’iḥii kullaahaa kayfa takuunu lu’lu’atun kabiiratun fii jasadii aṣ-ṣaghiiriThe sparrow laughed, "You forgot all my advice! How can a big pearl be in my small body?"