ʿaashat sulaḥfaatun fii birkatin maʿa baṭṭatayni ṣadiiqatayniA tortoise lived in a pond with two duck friends.
jaffa al-maa’u fii al-birkati wa’araadati al-baṭṭataani an tarḥalaaThe water in the pond dried up and the two ducks wanted to leave.
qaalati as-sulaḥfaatu khudhaanii maʿakumaaThe tortoise said, "Take me with you!"
qaalataa sanaḥmilu ʿuudan biminqaaraynaa wa’anti taʿaḍḍiina ʿalayhi bifamikiThey said, "We will carry a stick in our beaks and you bite it with your mouth."
laakin laa tatakallamii abadan"But never speak!"
ṭaarati al-baṭṭataani ʿaaliyan was-sulaḥfaatu taʿaḍḍu ʿalaa al-ʿuudiThe ducks flew high, with the tortoise biting the stick.
ra’aahumu an-naasu faqaaluu unẓuruu sulaḥfaatun taṭiiruPeople saw them and said, "Look! A flying tortoise!"
ghaḍibati as-sulaḥfaatu wa’araadat an tarudda ʿalayhim fafataḥat famahaaThe tortoise got angry, wanted to answer them, and opened her mouth.
saqaṭat mina as-samaa’iShe fell from the sky.
al-lisaanu alladhii laa yaskutu yaḍurru ṣaaḥibahuA tongue that cannot keep quiet harms its owner.