نَظَرَت دودَةٌ تَدُبُّ عَلى الأَرضِ

نَظَرَت دودَةٌ تَدُبُّ عَلى الأَرضِ

إِلى بُلبُلٍ يَطير وَيَصدَح

إِلى بُلبُلٍ يَطير وَيَصدَح

A worm crawling upon the earth looked

A worm crawling upon the ground looked up

At a nightingale flying and singing.

At a nightingale flying and chanting its song,

فَمَضَت تَشتَكي إِلى الوَرَقِ الساقِطِ

فَمَضَت تَشتَكي إِلى الوَرَقِ الساقِطِ

في الحَقلِ أَنَّها لَم تُجَنَّح

في الحَقلِ أَنَّها لَم تُجَنَّح

Then she went to complain to the fallen leaves

And went complaining to the fallen leaves

In the field that she had not been given wings.

In the field, that it had not been granted wings.

فَأَتَت نَملَةٌ إِلَيها وَقالَت

فَأَتَت نَملَةٌ إِلَيها وَقالَت

اِقنَعي وَاِسكُتي فَما لَكِ أَصلَح

اِقنَعي وَاِسكُتي فَما لَكِ أَصلَح

Then an ant came to her and said:

Then an ant came to it and said:

Be content and be silent, for what you have is better.

"Be content and hush, for your state is better;

ما تَمَنَّيتُ إِذ تَمَنَّيتُ إِلّا

ما تَمَنَّيتُ إِذ تَمَنَّيتُ إِلّا

أَن تَصيري طَيراً يُصاد وَيُذبَح

أَن تَصيري طَيراً يُصاد وَيُذبَح

I wished for nothing, when I wished, except

You have wished for nothing, when you made your wish,

That you become a bird to be hunted and slaughtered.

But to become a bird that is hunted and slaughtered.

فَاِلزُمي الأَرضَ فَهيَ أَحنى عَلى الدودِ

فَاِلزُمي الأَرضَ فَهيَ أَحنى عَلى الدودِ

وَخَلّي الكَلامَ فَالصَمتُ أَريَح

وَخَلّي الكَلامَ فَالصَمتُ أَريَح

So keep to the earth, for it is kinder to worms,

So cleave to the earth, for she is kinder to worms,

And leave off talking, for silence is more restful.

And abandon speech, for silence brings more peace."