Barwar: I am Worth the same as a Blind Wolf

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Transcribed by	Source	Speakers
Geoffrey Khan	Khan, Geoffrey. The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Barwar. 3 vols. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 2008, vol. 3	Yuwarəš Xošăba Kena

	Transcription	Translation
0:00	ʾáp-ʾana dàqrənˈ ʾax-déwa k̭òraˈ ʾáwwa mòdi qə́ṣṣət?ˈ xa-šăvána qam-ʾə̀rweˈ rằya,ˈ y-azə́lwa qam-ʾə̀rwe,ˈ kút-yum xá ʾərbe-díye ṭalə̀qwa.ˈ xá-yoma mgošə̀qle,ˈ mə́re xázən ʾan-ʾə́rwe ʾɛ̀kɛla xáša,ˈ ṭla-mòdi tláqa.ˈ síqle xa-dùkṯaˈ gu-xa-gằra.ˈ muttúle răqába d-an-ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xzéle xa-ʾə́rba ríqle sìqle l-ṭúra.ˈ ʾáp-ʾaw ʾàsəq báṯre,ˈ ʾásəq, ʾàsəq.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́rba wírre gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-déwa k̭òra táma,ˈ k̭òra.ˈ dmíxa qam-d-o-dèwaˈ ʾo-déwa píšle xála mən-d-o-ʾə̀rba,ˈ qəm-axə̀lle.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́ṯyɛleˈ wírɛle xə́zya ʾo-déwa xála ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ bắye qaṭə̀lwaleˈ xá-ga xéta klèle.ˈ mə́re škíra šə́mmət ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa déwa lɛ̀le ṣə́lya gu-ʾə̀rbi.ˈ ʾáwwa ʾə̀rbiˈ m-gáne díye ṯéle ríqle l-ṭùra.ˈ dmíxle qam-d-àwwa déwa,ˈ hóle xàləlle.ˈ kléle mtuxmə̀nneˈ mə́re yá-marya ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾo-déwa lɛ́le lá plìxaˈ ʾu-lá zə̀ryaˈ ʾu-lá xzìda,ˈ hot-yàwəlle rə́sqe díyeˈ hóle xàla.ˈ ʾáp-ʾana ṣálən dámxən bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáti májbur t-yàtli rə́sqi.ˈ ṣléle l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ báxte díye mə̀raˈ kɛ̀la ʾə́rwe,ˈ gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re ʾə́rwe hòla gu-ṭúra.ˈ bằyət,ˈ sɛ-mkàpəšla!ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-kàweˈ l-gàre.ˈ dmíxɛle bárqūl d-ay-kàwe.ˈ də́ryɛle šwíṯe díye tàma.ˈ báxta síqta muṯɛ́ṯəlla ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xà-yoma-wˈ tré-u ṭḷàṯaˈ har-hóle dmìxa.ˈ mə́ra gàwṛa!ˈ qu-sí qam-ʾə̀rwe!ˈ ʾáxni mò ṱ-áxləx?ˈ mò šátəx?ˈ mára ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ xá-yoma mbuqə́rra mə́ra mòdi m-áyya qə́ṣṣət díye ʾo-déwa k̭òra?ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾə̀rwənˈ ʾo-xá-dewa k̭óra dmìxa gu-ṭúra.ˈ kút-yum xá-ʾərwən y-arə́qwa y-ásəq qám … d-o-dèwa,ˈ ʾaw y-axə̀lwale.ˈ mə́re ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-d-ó-dewa k̭òra.ˈ hát ʾálaha yálli rə́sqi b-áyya kàwe,ˈ ʾàxxa ṱ-áwən dmíxa.ˈ ʾáyya bàxtaˈ lá-mṣela mxumɛ̀la ʾə́rwe.ˈ ʾə́rwe qəm-zabnàla.ˈ píšla făqìre.ˈ kút-yum ʾazáwa l-ṭúra maṯyáwa ḏa-kɛ́rta qɛ́sa l-xáṣa dìyaˈ ʾu-zabnàwa.ˈ šáqla xa-lə̀xma,ˈ pálga ṭla-gàwṛaˈ pálga ṭla-d-ày,ˈ y-axlìwa.ˈ xá-yoma síqla l-ṭùra,ˈ ṣléla ʾáqla díya gu-xa-čàle.ˈ šaqlála ʾàqla,ˈ ʾína xa-qadálta dàwe.ˈ tfíqla dàwe xo-ʾáqla díya.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha hóle híwəlle rə́sqa d-áwwa gáwṛa t-wéwa mára ʾána dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ šqíltɛla mən-dàwe,ˈ ṣlíṯɛla kəs-gàwṛe díye.ˈ mə́ra qú gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re mòdi?ˈ mə́ra hóle ʾálaha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx mɛṯə̀xla.ˈ mə́re là,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ rə́sqi ṣále b-àyya káwe.ˈ kízla gàwṛa!ˈ lá-hawət šeḏàna.ˈ qú ʾaláha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ qímta zílta kəs-d-aw-šwawèy.ˈ mə́ra šwàwa,ˈ mə̀raˈ ʾána síqli fə́llən dùkṯa,ˈ xá-dukṯa hon-xzíṯa hátxa dàwe,ˈ ʾáyya qadálta dàwe,ˈ mára lɛ̀le rə́sqi,ˈ ʾə́lla ʾálaha dáre b-áyya kàwe.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx maṯə̀xleˈ pálga ṭlàlənˈ pálga ṭlàlux.ˈ qímela síqe rəš-d-ɛ́ dùkṯa.ˈ ʾo-náša xzéle ʾánna dàweˈ dū́s dàwela.ˈ qáyəm dáwəqla ʾáqlət ʾíḏə d-áy-baxta ʾasə̀ṛṛa.ˈ rapèlaˈ l-ʾằra.ˈ šaqə́l ʾan-dàwe,ˈ maṣléla l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣléle ʾurxa-ʾúrxa xzéle ʾína pyáša dəbbòre,ˈ kúlla práxa č̭ənnək̭àre dìye.ˈ ʾáyya xmàrta!ˈ ʾánna dáwe ʾan-dəbbòrela.ˈ də-klá maxzə̀nne gáwṛəx.ˈ ṱ-ásqən ʾánna mattə́nna l-d-ày káwe.ˈ napṣə́nna kúlla b-réše dìye,ˈ ṣáli tàma,ˈ ʾáwwa dmíxa gu-d-áw ʾòtəx.ˈ ʾáni b-nɛsíle b-màyəṯ.ˈ nɛ̀xət mə́nne díye.ˈ ʾáwwa síqɛle l-gàre.ˈ mútta qadàlta,ˈ ʾo-ʾamàna,ˈ rəš-d-àyya káwe.ˈ npìṣəlla.ˈ kú ṱ-íle ṣláya xo-qárše ʾə̀ltəx,ˈ pyáša dàwa,ˈ ṣláya npála ʾằrɛle.ˈ ʾo-ṱ-íle pyáša ʾùḷḷuḷˈ ʾáw pyáša dəbbòreleˈ ʾu-zàla.ˈ xàrṯaˈ qímɛle sìqaˈ ʾa-báxta šə́ryəlla ʾaqláṯa dìya.ˈ mə́ra šwàwi,ˈ ṭla-mò wídlux hátxa bíyi?ˈ ʾána wídli spayùṯa,ˈ maxzóyəllux dàwa.ˈ ʾáti qəm-asṛə́tla ʾáqli w-iṯàṯi,ˈ mrapə́tli làxxa.ˈ mə́re šwàwta.ˈ báxta xáčča zàbbun-ila.ˈ mə́re ʾána mə́ri t-là … ʾáti ṣályət ṱ-ámrət ʾána xzéli dàweˈ ʾu-šwáwa qəm-šaqə̀lla-wˈ ʾu-náše t-yắḏi məndiyàneˈ ʾu-máṭya l-ḥùkmaˈ šáqli ʾánna dáwe mə̀nnən.ˈ hon-múṣəlya dàweˈ múttəlla kəs-gàwṛəx.ˈ ṣáləx pălə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya-ži qìmtɛlaˈ šə́ryəlla ʾáqle w-ìḏeˈ ʾu-ṣə́lya l-bɛ̀ṯɛle.ˈ ṣə́lya bɛ̀ṯɛle,ˈ də-súq sùqˈ hadíya gáwṛəx píša jănàzɛle.ˈ mə́ra yá mút jănàza?! mára ʾáni làwa dáwe.ˈ kúlla dəbbòre-wawa.ˈ hon-npíṣəlla gu-ʾotáxə gàwṛəx.ˈ díya gáwṛəx mìṯa.ˈ ʾásqa t-paṯxàle tắraˈ ʾína gáwṛa díya mpălóye gu-d-an-dàwe,ˈ lìṯ!ˈ ʾan-t-wáwa ṣə́lye ʾə̀ltəxˈ kúlla píše dàwe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ʾálaha qəm-yawə́lle rə́sqə d-o-nàša.ˈ mára bíš qəm-madqə́rre mən-d-ó déwa ṱ-axə́lwa ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ ʾáp-ʾana dàqrənˈ ʾax-déwa k̭òraˈ ʾáwwa mòdi qə́ṣṣət?ˈ xa-šăvána qam-ʾə̀rweˈ rằya,ˈ y-azə́lwa qam-ʾə̀rwe,ˈ kút-yum xá ʾərbe-díye ṭalə̀qwa.ˈ xá-yoma mgošə̀qle,ˈ mə́re xázən ʾan-ʾə́rwe ʾɛ̀kɛla xáša,ˈ ṭla-mòdi tláqa.ˈ síqle xa-dùkṯaˈ gu-xa-gằra.ˈ muttúle răqába d-an-ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xzéle xa-ʾə́rba ríqle sìqle l-ṭúra.ˈ ʾáp-ʾaw ʾàsəq báṯre,ˈ ʾásəq, ʾàsəq.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́rba wírre gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-déwa k̭òra táma,ˈ k̭òra.ˈ dmíxa qam-d-o-dèwaˈ ʾo-déwa píšle xála mən-d-o-ʾə̀rba,ˈ qəm-axə̀lle.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́ṯyɛleˈ wírɛle xə́zya ʾo-déwa xála ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ bắye qaṭə̀lwaleˈ xá-ga xéta klèle.ˈ mə́re škíra šə́mmət ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa déwa lɛ̀le ṣə́lya gu-ʾə̀rbi.ˈ ʾáwwa ʾə̀rbiˈ m-gáne díye ṯéle ríqle l-ṭùra.ˈ dmíxle qam-d-àwwa déwa,ˈ hóle xàləlle.ˈ kléle mtuxmə̀nneˈ mə́re yá-marya ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾo-déwa lɛ́le lá plìxaˈ ʾu-lá zə̀ryaˈ ʾu-lá xzìda,ˈ hot-yàwəlle rə́sqe díyeˈ hóle xàla.ˈ ʾáp-ʾana ṣálən dámxən bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáti májbur t-yàtli rə́sqi.ˈ ṣléle l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ báxte díye mə̀raˈ kɛ̀la ʾə́rwe,ˈ gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re ʾə́rwe hòla gu-ṭúra.ˈ bằyət,ˈ sɛ-mkàpəšla!ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-kàweˈ l-gàre.ˈ dmíxɛle bárqūl d-ay-kàwe.ˈ də́ryɛle šwíṯe díye tàma.ˈ báxta síqta muṯɛ́ṯəlla ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xà-yoma-wˈ tré-u ṭḷàṯaˈ har-hóle dmìxa.ˈ mə́ra gàwṛa!ˈ qu-sí qam-ʾə̀rwe!ˈ ʾáxni mò ṱ-áxləx?ˈ mò šátəx?ˈ mára ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ xá-yoma mbuqə́rra mə́ra mòdi m-áyya qə́ṣṣət díye ʾo-déwa k̭òra?ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾə̀rwənˈ ʾo-xá-dewa k̭óra dmìxa gu-ṭúra.ˈ kút-yum xá-ʾərwən y-arə́qwa y-ásəq qám … d-o-dèwa,ˈ ʾaw y-axə̀lwale.ˈ mə́re ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-d-ó-dewa k̭òra.ˈ hát ʾálaha yálli rə́sqi b-áyya kàwe,ˈ ʾàxxa ṱ-áwən dmíxa.ˈ ʾáyya bàxtaˈ lá-mṣela mxumɛ̀la ʾə́rwe.ˈ ʾə́rwe qəm-zabnàla.ˈ píšla făqìre.ˈ kút-yum ʾazáwa l-ṭúra maṯyáwa ḏa-kɛ́rta qɛ́sa l-xáṣa dìyaˈ ʾu-zabnàwa.ˈ šáqla xa-lə̀xma,ˈ pálga ṭla-gàwṛaˈ pálga ṭla-d-ày,ˈ y-axlìwa.ˈ xá-yoma síqla l-ṭùra,ˈ ṣléla ʾáqla díya gu-xa-čàle.ˈ šaqlála ʾàqla,ˈ ʾína xa-qadálta dàwe.ˈ tfíqla dàwe xo-ʾáqla díya.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha hóle híwəlle rə́sqa d-áwwa gáwṛa t-wéwa mára ʾána dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ šqíltɛla mən-dàwe,ˈ ṣlíṯɛla kəs-gàwṛe díye.ˈ mə́ra qú gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re mòdi?ˈ mə́ra hóle ʾálaha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx mɛṯə̀xla.ˈ mə́re là,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ rə́sqi ṣále b-àyya káwe.ˈ kízla gàwṛa!ˈ lá-hawət šeḏàna.ˈ qú ʾaláha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ qímta zílta kəs-d-aw-šwawèy.ˈ mə́ra šwàwa,ˈ mə̀raˈ ʾána síqli fə́llən dùkṯa,ˈ xá-dukṯa hon-xzíṯa hátxa dàwe,ˈ ʾáyya qadálta dàwe,ˈ mára lɛ̀le rə́sqi,ˈ ʾə́lla ʾálaha dáre b-áyya kàwe.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx maṯə̀xleˈ pálga ṭlàlənˈ pálga ṭlàlux.ˈ qímela síqe rəš-d-ɛ́ dùkṯa.ˈ ʾo-náša xzéle ʾánna dàweˈ dū́s dàwela.ˈ qáyəm dáwəqla ʾáqlət ʾíḏə d-áy-baxta ʾasə̀ṛṛa.ˈ rapèlaˈ l-ʾằra.ˈ šaqə́l ʾan-dàwe,ˈ maṣléla l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣléle ʾurxa-ʾúrxa xzéle ʾína pyáša dəbbòre,ˈ kúlla práxa č̭ənnək̭àre dìye.ˈ ʾáyya xmàrta!ˈ ʾánna dáwe ʾan-dəbbòrela.ˈ də-klá maxzə̀nne gáwṛəx.ˈ ṱ-ásqən ʾánna mattə́nna l-d-ày káwe.ˈ napṣə́nna kúlla b-réše dìye,ˈ ṣáli tàma,ˈ ʾáwwa dmíxa gu-d-áw ʾòtəx.ˈ ʾáni b-nɛsíle b-màyəṯ.ˈ nɛ̀xət mə́nne díye.ˈ ʾáwwa síqɛle l-gàre.ˈ mútta qadàlta,ˈ ʾo-ʾamàna,ˈ rəš-d-àyya káwe.ˈ npìṣəlla.ˈ kú ṱ-íle ṣláya xo-qárše ʾə̀ltəx,ˈ pyáša dàwa,ˈ ṣláya npála ʾằrɛle.ˈ ʾo-ṱ-íle pyáša ʾùḷḷuḷˈ ʾáw pyáša dəbbòreleˈ ʾu-zàla.ˈ xàrṯaˈ qímɛle sìqaˈ ʾa-báxta šə́ryəlla ʾaqláṯa dìya.ˈ mə́ra šwàwi,ˈ ṭla-mò wídlux hátxa bíyi?ˈ ʾána wídli spayùṯa,ˈ maxzóyəllux dàwa.ˈ ʾáti qəm-asṛə́tla ʾáqli w-iṯàṯi,ˈ mrapə́tli làxxa.ˈ mə́re šwàwta.ˈ báxta xáčča zàbbun-ila.ˈ mə́re ʾána mə́ri t-là … ʾáti ṣályət ṱ-ámrət ʾána xzéli dàweˈ ʾu-šwáwa qəm-šaqə̀lla-wˈ ʾu-náše t-yắḏi məndiyàneˈ ʾu-máṭya l-ḥùkmaˈ šáqli ʾánna dáwe mə̀nnən.ˈ hon-múṣəlya dàweˈ múttəlla kəs-gàwṛəx.ˈ ṣáləx pălə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya-ži qìmtɛlaˈ šə́ryəlla ʾáqle w-ìḏeˈ ʾu-ṣə́lya l-bɛ̀ṯɛle.ˈ ṣə́lya bɛ̀ṯɛle,ˈ də-súq sùqˈ hadíya gáwṛəx píša jănàzɛle.ˈ mə́ra yá mút jănàza?! mára ʾáni làwa dáwe.ˈ kúlla dəbbòre-wawa.ˈ hon-npíṣəlla gu-ʾotáxə gàwṛəx.ˈ díya gáwṛəx mìṯa.ˈ ʾásqa t-paṯxàle tắraˈ ʾína gáwṛa díya mpălóye gu-d-an-dàwe,ˈ lìṯ!ˈ ʾan-t-wáwa ṣə́lye ʾə̀ltəxˈ kúlla píše dàwe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ʾálaha qəm-yawə́lle rə́sqə d-o-nàša.ˈ mára bíš qəm-madqə́rre mən-d-ó déwa ṱ-axə́lwa ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ	I am worth the same as a blind wolf—What is the story? A shepherd used to go to look after sheep. Every day one of his sheep was lost. One day he looked and said ‘Let me see where these sheep are going, why are they disappearing’. He went up to a place on a hill. He set up an observation point for his sheep. He saw one sheep running up the mountain. He went up after him. He went up and up. The sheep entered a cave. There was a blind wolf there, blind. It slept in front of that wolf. The wolf started eating the sheep, and ate it up. He came inside and saw the wolf eating his sheep. He wanted to kill him. Then he refrained and said ‘Praise be the name of God’, he said ‘This wolf has not come down among my sheep. This sheep of mine has come and run to the mountain of its own accord. It went to sleep before this wolf and it is now eating it.’ He stood and thought, he said ‘Oh Lord God’, he said ‘That wolf has neither worked, nor cultivated, nor harvested, but you are giving it its sustenance and it is eating it. I also shall go down and sleep at home. You will be obliged to give me my sustenance’. He went down to his home. His wife said ‘Where are the sheep, husband?’ He said ‘The sheep are in the mountains. If you want, go and gather them up!’ There was a window in the roof. He slept opposite that window. He put his bed there. His wife went up to bring back his sheep. One day, two, three, he just slept. She said ‘Husband! Go and look after the sheep! What shall we eat? What shall we drink?’ He said ‘I am worth as much as that blind wolf’. One day she asked saying ‘What is this story about the blind wolf?’ He said ‘Our sheep—such a blind wolf is sleeping in the mountains. Every day one of our sheep would run up to that wolf and he would eat it. I am worth as much as that blind wolf. Until God gives me my sustenance through this window, I shall sleep here.’ The woman could not keep the sheep. She sold the sheep. They became poor. Everyday she would go to the mountains and bring a load of wood on her back. She would sell it and buy a loaf of bread, half for her husband and half for her, and they would eat. One day she went up the mountain and her foot went down into a hole. She took away her foot and there was a pot of gold coins. She found gold coins under her leg. She said ‘By God, He has provided the sustenance of this husband (of mine), who said that I am worth as much as that blind wolf.’ She took some of the gold coins and went down to her husband. She said ‘Get up, husband’. He said ‘What is it?’ She said ‘God has provided your sustenance. Let’s go up and fetch it’. He said ‘No, that is not my sustenance. My sustenance will come down through this window’. She tried (to persuade him by saying) ‘Husband! Don’t be mad. Get up, God has provided your sustenance’. He said ‘That is not my sustenance’. She went to their neighbour. She said ‘Neighbour’, she said ‘I went up to such-and-such a place and in a certain place I have found gold coins like this, a pot of gold coins. He (my husband) says “It is not my sustenance unless God puts it through this window”. Let’s go up and fetch it, half will be for us and half for you’. They went up to that place. That man saw those gold coins. They were truly gold coins. He seized the leg and hand of that woman and bound them. He threw her to the ground. He took the gold coins and took them down to his home. He went down and on the way saw that they were becoming hornets, all flying around him. ‘That she-ass! These gold coins are now those hornets. Let me show your husband. I’ll go up and put them in that window. I’ll shake them all over him and they will go down there (in the house), while he is sleeping in that room. They will sting him and he will die. You will then be free of him.’ He went up onto the roof. He placed the pot, the container, on the window. He shook it. Everything that fell down under the beams became gold and fell down onto the floor. That which remained above remained hornets. He went on his way. Then, he went up and untied the legs of that woman. She said ‘Neighbour, why did you do this to me? I did you a favour by showing you the gold. You bound my legs and hands and left me here’. He said ‘Neighbour, a woman is rather weak’. He said ‘I said (to myself, I’ll do this) so that you do not go down and say “I have found gold coins and the neighbour has taken them”, and so that people would not know things, and the matter would be made known to the government and they would take these gold coins from us. I have taken the gold coins down and deposited them with your husband. Let’s go down and divide them’. She got up. He released her feet and hands and he went down to his home. He went down to his home (and he said) ‘Go, your husband is now dead’. She said ‘Why is he dead?’ He said ‘They were not gold coins. They were all hornets. I shook them in the room of your husband. Now your husband is dead’. She went up to open the door and saw her husband sorting the gold coins! Those (hornets) that had fallen below had all become gold. So, God provided the sustenance of that man. The story tells that He (God) considered him worth more than the wolf that ate his sheep.

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Transcription:

ʾáp-ʾana dàqrənˈ ʾax-déwa k̭òraˈ ʾáwwa mòdi qə́ṣṣət?ˈ xa-šăvána qam-ʾə̀rweˈ rằya,ˈ y-azə́lwa qam-ʾə̀rwe,ˈ kút-yum xá ʾərbe-díye ṭalə̀qwa.ˈ xá-yoma mgošə̀qle,ˈ mə́re xázən ʾan-ʾə́rwe ʾɛ̀kɛla xáša,ˈ ṭla-mòdi tláqa.ˈ síqle xa-dùkṯaˈ gu-xa-gằra.ˈ muttúle răqába d-an-ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xzéle xa-ʾə́rba ríqle sìqle l-ṭúra.ˈ ʾáp-ʾaw ʾàsəq báṯre,ˈ ʾásəq, ʾàsəq.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́rba wírre gu-xa-gə̀ppa.ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-déwa k̭òra táma,ˈ k̭òra.ˈ dmíxa qam-d-o-dèwaˈ ʾo-déwa píšle xála mən-d-o-ʾə̀rba,ˈ qəm-axə̀lle.ˈ ʾaw-ʾə́ṯyɛleˈ wírɛle xə́zya ʾo-déwa xála ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ bắye qaṭə̀lwaleˈ xá-ga xéta klèle.ˈ mə́re škíra šə́mmət ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa déwa lɛ̀le ṣə́lya gu-ʾə̀rbi.ˈ ʾáwwa ʾə̀rbiˈ m-gáne díye ṯéle ríqle l-ṭùra.ˈ dmíxle qam-d-àwwa déwa,ˈ hóle xàləlle.ˈ kléle mtuxmə̀nneˈ mə́re yá-marya ʾàlaha,ˈ mə́re ʾo-déwa lɛ́le lá plìxaˈ ʾu-lá zə̀ryaˈ ʾu-lá xzìda,ˈ hot-yàwəlle rə́sqe díyeˈ hóle xàla.ˈ ʾáp-ʾana ṣálən dámxən bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ʾáti májbur t-yàtli rə́sqi.ˈ ṣléle l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ báxte díye mə̀raˈ kɛ̀la ʾə́rwe,ˈ gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re ʾə́rwe hòla gu-ṭúra.ˈ bằyət,ˈ sɛ-mkàpəšla!ˈ ʾíṯwa xa-kàweˈ l-gàre.ˈ dmíxɛle bárqūl d-ay-kàwe.ˈ də́ryɛle šwíṯe díye tàma.ˈ báxta síqta muṯɛ́ṯəlla ʾə́rwe dìye.ˈ xà-yoma-wˈ tré-u ṭḷàṯaˈ har-hóle dmìxa.ˈ mə́ra gàwṛa!ˈ qu-sí qam-ʾə̀rwe!ˈ ʾáxni mò ṱ-áxləx?ˈ mò šátəx?ˈ mára ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ xá-yoma mbuqə́rra mə́ra mòdi m-áyya qə́ṣṣət díye ʾo-déwa k̭òra?ˈ mə̀reˈ ʾə̀rwənˈ ʾo-xá-dewa k̭óra dmìxa gu-ṭúra.ˈ kút-yum xá-ʾərwən y-arə́qwa y-ásəq qám … d-o-dèwa,ˈ ʾaw y-axə̀lwale.ˈ mə́re ʾáp-ʾana dáqrən ʾax-d-ó-dewa k̭òra.ˈ hát ʾálaha yálli rə́sqi b-áyya kàwe,ˈ ʾàxxa ṱ-áwən dmíxa.ˈ ʾáyya bàxtaˈ lá-mṣela mxumɛ̀la ʾə́rwe.ˈ ʾə́rwe qəm-zabnàla.ˈ píšla făqìre.ˈ kút-yum ʾazáwa l-ṭúra maṯyáwa ḏa-kɛ́rta qɛ́sa l-xáṣa dìyaˈ ʾu-zabnàwa.ˈ šáqla xa-lə̀xma,ˈ pálga ṭla-gàwṛaˈ pálga ṭla-d-ày,ˈ y-axlìwa.ˈ xá-yoma síqla l-ṭùra,ˈ ṣléla ʾáqla díya gu-xa-čàle.ˈ šaqlála ʾàqla,ˈ ʾína xa-qadálta dàwe.ˈ tfíqla dàwe xo-ʾáqla díya.ˈ mə́ra b-álaha hóle híwəlle rə́sqa d-áwwa gáwṛa t-wéwa mára ʾána dáqrən ʾax-déwa d-o-k̭òra.ˈ šqíltɛla mən-dàwe,ˈ ṣlíṯɛla kəs-gàwṛe díye.ˈ mə́ra qú gàwṛa.ˈ mə́re mòdi?ˈ mə́ra hóle ʾálaha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx mɛṯə̀xla.ˈ mə́re là,ˈ ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ rə́sqi ṣále b-àyya káwe.ˈ kízla gàwṛa!ˈ lá-hawət šeḏàna.ˈ qú ʾaláha híwle rə̀squx.ˈ mə́re ʾáwwa lɛ̀le rə́sqi.ˈ qímta zílta kəs-d-aw-šwawèy.ˈ mə́ra šwàwa,ˈ mə̀raˈ ʾána síqli fə́llən dùkṯa,ˈ xá-dukṯa hon-xzíṯa hátxa dàwe,ˈ ʾáyya qadálta dàwe,ˈ mára lɛ̀le rə́sqi,ˈ ʾə́lla ʾálaha dáre b-áyya kàwe.ˈ ṱ-ásqəx maṯə̀xleˈ pálga ṭlàlənˈ pálga ṭlàlux.ˈ qímela síqe rəš-d-ɛ́ dùkṯa.ˈ ʾo-náša xzéle ʾánna dàweˈ dū́s dàwela.ˈ qáyəm dáwəqla ʾáqlət ʾíḏə d-áy-baxta ʾasə̀ṛṛa.ˈ rapèlaˈ l-ʾằra.ˈ šaqə́l ʾan-dàwe,ˈ maṣléla l-bɛ̀ṯa.ˈ ṣléle ʾurxa-ʾúrxa xzéle ʾína pyáša dəbbòre,ˈ kúlla práxa č̭ənnək̭àre dìye.ˈ ʾáyya xmàrta!ˈ ʾánna dáwe ʾan-dəbbòrela.ˈ də-klá maxzə̀nne gáwṛəx.ˈ ṱ-ásqən ʾánna mattə́nna l-d-ày káwe.ˈ napṣə́nna kúlla b-réše dìye,ˈ ṣáli tàma,ˈ ʾáwwa dmíxa gu-d-áw ʾòtəx.ˈ ʾáni b-nɛsíle b-màyəṯ.ˈ nɛ̀xət mə́nne díye.ˈ ʾáwwa síqɛle l-gàre.ˈ mútta qadàlta,ˈ ʾo-ʾamàna,ˈ rəš-d-àyya káwe.ˈ npìṣəlla.ˈ kú ṱ-íle ṣláya xo-qárše ʾə̀ltəx,ˈ pyáša dàwa,ˈ ṣláya npála ʾằrɛle.ˈ ʾo-ṱ-íle pyáša ʾùḷḷuḷˈ ʾáw pyáša dəbbòreleˈ ʾu-zàla.ˈ xàrṯaˈ qímɛle sìqaˈ ʾa-báxta šə́ryəlla ʾaqláṯa dìya.ˈ mə́ra šwàwi,ˈ ṭla-mò wídlux hátxa bíyi?ˈ ʾána wídli spayùṯa,ˈ maxzóyəllux dàwa.ˈ ʾáti qəm-asṛə́tla ʾáqli w-iṯàṯi,ˈ mrapə́tli làxxa.ˈ mə́re šwàwta.ˈ báxta xáčča zàbbun-ila.ˈ mə́re ʾána mə́ri t-là … ʾáti ṣályət ṱ-ámrət ʾána xzéli dàweˈ ʾu-šwáwa qəm-šaqə̀lla-wˈ ʾu-náše t-yắḏi məndiyàneˈ ʾu-máṭya l-ḥùkmaˈ šáqli ʾánna dáwe mə̀nnən.ˈ hon-múṣəlya dàweˈ múttəlla kəs-gàwṛəx.ˈ ṣáləx pălə̀xla.ˈ ʾáyya-ži qìmtɛlaˈ šə́ryəlla ʾáqle w-ìḏeˈ ʾu-ṣə́lya l-bɛ̀ṯɛle.ˈ ṣə́lya bɛ̀ṯɛle,ˈ də-súq sùqˈ hadíya gáwṛəx píša jănàzɛle.ˈ mə́ra yá mút jănàza?! mára ʾáni làwa dáwe.ˈ kúlla dəbbòre-wawa.ˈ hon-npíṣəlla gu-ʾotáxə gàwṛəx.ˈ díya gáwṛəx mìṯa.ˈ ʾásqa t-paṯxàle tắraˈ ʾína gáwṛa díya mpălóye gu-d-an-dàwe,ˈ lìṯ!ˈ ʾan-t-wáwa ṣə́lye ʾə̀ltəxˈ kúlla píše dàwe.ˈ ʾɛ́-ga ʾálaha qəm-yawə́lle rə́sqə d-o-nàša.ˈ mára bíš qəm-madqə́rre mən-d-ó déwa ṱ-axə́lwa ʾə́rbe dìye.ˈ

Translation:

I am worth the same as a blind wolf—What is the story? A shepherd used to go to look after sheep. Every day one of his sheep was lost. One day he looked and said ‘Let me see where these sheep are going, why are they disappearing’. He went up to a place on a hill. He set up an observation point for his sheep. He saw one sheep running up the mountain. He went up after him. He went up and up. The sheep entered a cave. There was a blind wolf there, blind. It slept in front of that wolf. The wolf started eating the sheep, and ate it up. He came inside and saw the wolf eating his sheep. He wanted to kill him. Then he refrained and said ‘Praise be the name of God’, he said ‘This wolf has not come down among my sheep. This sheep of mine has come and run to the mountain of its own accord. It went to sleep before this wolf and it is now eating it.’ He stood and thought, he said ‘Oh Lord God’, he said ‘That wolf has neither worked, nor cultivated, nor harvested, but you are giving it its sustenance and it is eating it. I also shall go down and sleep at home. You will be obliged to give me my sustenance’. He went down to his home. His wife said ‘Where are the sheep, husband?’ He said ‘The sheep are in the mountains. If you want, go and gather them up!’ There was a window in the roof. He slept opposite that window. He put his bed there. His wife went up to bring back his sheep. One day, two, three, he just slept. She said ‘Husband! Go and look after the sheep! What shall we eat? What shall we drink?’ He said ‘I am worth as much as that blind wolf’. One day she asked saying ‘What is this story about the blind wolf?’ He said ‘Our sheep—such a blind wolf is sleeping in the mountains. Every day one of our sheep would run up to that wolf and he would eat it. I am worth as much as that blind wolf. Until God gives me my sustenance through this window, I shall sleep here.’ The woman could not keep the sheep. She sold the sheep. They became poor. Everyday she would go to the mountains and bring a load of wood on her back. She would sell it and buy a loaf of bread, half for her husband and half for her, and they would eat. One day she went up the mountain and her foot went down into a hole. She took away her foot and there was a pot of gold coins. She found gold coins under her leg. She said ‘By God, He has provided the sustenance of this husband (of mine), who said that I am worth as much as that blind wolf.’ She took some of the gold coins and went down to her husband. She said ‘Get up, husband’. He said ‘What is it?’ She said ‘God has provided your sustenance. Let’s go up and fetch it’. He said ‘No, that is not my sustenance. My sustenance will come down through this window’. She tried (to persuade him by saying) ‘Husband! Don’t be mad. Get up, God has provided your sustenance’. He said ‘That is not my sustenance’. She went to their neighbour. She said ‘Neighbour’, she said ‘I went up to such-and-such a place and in a certain place I have found gold coins like this, a pot of gold coins. He (my husband) says “It is not my sustenance unless God puts it through this window”. Let’s go up and fetch it, half will be for us and half for you’. They went up to that place. That man saw those gold coins. They were truly gold coins. He seized the leg and hand of that woman and bound them. He threw her to the ground. He took the gold coins and took them down to his home. He went down and on the way saw that they were becoming hornets, all flying around him. ‘That she-ass! These gold coins are now those hornets. Let me show your husband. I’ll go up and put them in that window. I’ll shake them all over him and they will go down there (in the house), while he is sleeping in that room. They will sting him and he will die. You will then be free of him.’ He went up onto the roof. He placed the pot, the container, on the window. He shook it. Everything that fell down under the beams became gold and fell down onto the floor. That which remained above remained hornets. He went on his way. Then, he went up and untied the legs of that woman. She said ‘Neighbour, why did you do this to me? I did you a favour by showing you the gold. You bound my legs and hands and left me here’. He said ‘Neighbour, a woman is rather weak’. He said ‘I said (to myself, I’ll do this) so that you do not go down and say “I have found gold coins and the neighbour has taken them”, and so that people would not know things, and the matter would be made known to the government and they would take these gold coins from us. I have taken the gold coins down and deposited them with your husband. Let’s go down and divide them’. She got up. He released her feet and hands and he went down to his home. He went down to his home (and he said) ‘Go, your husband is now dead’. She said ‘Why is he dead?’ He said ‘They were not gold coins. They were all hornets. I shook them in the room of your husband. Now your husband is dead’. She went up to open the door and saw her husband sorting the gold coins! Those (hornets) that had fallen below had all become gold. So, God provided the sustenance of that man. The story tells that He (God) considered him worth more than the wolf that ate his sheep.