كانَ ذِئبٌ يَتَغَذّى

فَجَرَت في الزَورِ عَظمَه

A wolf used to feed

His bone lay in fields in spring

أَلزَمَتهُ الصَومَ حَتّى

فَجَعَت في الروحِ جِسمَه

Fasting emaciated him

Making his flesh languish in spirit

فَأَتى الثَعلَبُ يَبكي

وَيُعَزّي فيهِ أُمَّه

The fox came crying

And consoled his mother

قالَ يا أُمَّ صَديقي

بِيَ مِمّا بِكِ غُمَّه

Saying: O my friend's mother

What grieves you?

فَاِصبِري صَبراً جَميلاً

إِنَّ صَبرَ الأُمِّ رَحمَه

So be patient beautifully

A mother's patience is mercy

فَأَجابَت يا اِبنَ أُختي

كُلُّ ما قَد قُلتَ حِكمَه

She replied: O my sister's son

All you have said is wisdom

ما بِيَ الغالي وَلَكِن

قَولُهُم ماتَ بِعَظمَه

But I do not care so much

Their saying he died from his bone

لَيتَهُ مِثلَ أَخيهِ

ماتَ مَحسوداً بِتُخمَه

Would that he died like his brother

Envied for his fat