fii birkatin baʿiidatin ʿaashat thalaathu samakaatin dhakiyyatun waʿaadiyyatun wakasuulatunIn a distant pond lived three fish: a clever one, an ordinary one and a lazy one.
jaa’a ṣayyaadaani waqaalaa fii haadhihi al-birkati samakun kathiirun sanaʿuudu ghadanTwo fishermen came and said, "There are many fish in this pond. We will come back tomorrow."
samiʿati adh-dhakiyyatu dhaalika waqaalat sa’akhruju al-’aana mina al-birkatiThe clever one heard this and said, "I will leave the pond now."
qaalati al-ʿaadiyyatu sa’antaẓiru warubbamaa laa ya’tuunaThe ordinary one said, "I will wait; perhaps they will not come."
waqaalati al-kasuulatu laa uriidu an atʿabaAnd the lazy one said, "I do not want to tire myself."
fii aṣ-ṣabaaḥi jaa’a aṣ-ṣayyaadaani bishibaakihimaaIn the morning the two fishermen came with their nets.
araadati al-ʿaadiyyatu an tahruba fawaqaʿat fii ash-shabakatiThe ordinary one tried to flee but fell into the net.
ammaa al-kasuulatu fabaqiyat fii makaanihaa wa’ukhidhatAnd the lazy one stayed where she was and was taken.
najati adh-dhakiyyatu li’annahaa fakkarat fii al-khaṭari qabla an yaṣilaThe clever one was saved because she thought about the danger before it arrived.