نَصبتُ الفخّ ثمَّ قَعدتُ عنه

نَصبتُ الفخّ ثمَّ قَعدتُ عنه

بعيداً كيْ أَرى فيه فلاحا

بعيداً كيْ أَرى فيه فلاحا

I set the trap, then sat away from it,

I set the trap, then sat apart from it,

I set the snare then sat far from it

I set the snare, then sat apart from it,

far off, to see whether it would prosper—

far away, so I might see success in it.

So I could see a peasant in it caught

Far off, that I might witness some success;

إذا قِرْدِي مقيمٌ عندَ رأسي

إذا قِرْدِي مقيمٌ عندَ رأسي

يَقولُ لمُقبلاتِ الطيرِ حاحا

يَقولُ لمُقبلاتِ الطيرِ حاحا

only to find my monkey stationed at my head,

Suddenly, there was my monkey, settled beside my head,

If there's a monkey perched above my head

But lo, my monkey, stationed by my head,

calling to the approaching birds, “Shoo! Shoo!”

saying “Shoo, shoo!” to the approaching birds.

Who scares the birds away with raucous screech

Cries "Shoo!" unto the birds approaching me.