يا وَهبُ إِنَّ ناقَةً

يا وَهبُ إِنَّ ناقَةً

أَظَمَأتَها فَوَرَدَت

أَظَمَأتَها فَوَرَدَت

O Wahb, indeed, a she-camel—

you made her thirsty, so she came to water,

وَنَفَرَت شارِدَةً

وَنَفَرَت شارِدَةً

فَأَبرَقَت وَأَرعَدَت

فَأَبرَقَت وَأَرعَدَت

and she bolted, straying away;

then she flashed lightning and thundered.

لَو كُنتَ لمّا وَرَدَت

لَو كُنتَ لمّا وَرَدَت

عَقَلتَها ما شَرَدَت

عَقَلتَها ما شَرَدَت

Had you, when she came to water,

hobbled her, she would not have strayed.