The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Bored and mischievous, a shepherd boy tricks villagers by yelling wolf. But what will happen when a real wolf finally appears?
Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took care of the village's sheep. Each day, he led them to a grassy field near the forest and watched over them from a hill.
The boy often felt bored and lonely because there were no other children to play with. One day, he had an idea for fun. He ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"
Hearing his cries, the villagers dropped everything and rushed to help. But when they arrived, there was no wolf, and the sheep were fine. The boy burst out laughing.
“I tricked you!” he giggled.
The villagers frowned. “That’s not funny! Never lie about danger!” they scolded before marching back.
A few days later, the boy felt bored again. He decided to play the same trick. So he ran to the village and yelled, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"
Once more, the villagers rushed to help. But again, there was no wolf. The boy rolled on the ground, laughing.
This time, the villagers were furious. “Don’t cry wolf when there is no wolf!” they warned. “One day, no one will believe you.”
The boy shrugged. “They just don’t know how to have fun.”
Not long after, as the sky turned orange, the bushes rustled. A real wolf appeared. Its sharp teeth gleamed as it sneaked toward the sheep.
The boy’s heart pounded. “Oh no! It’s real this time!”
He ran to the village as fast as he could, screaming, “Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf is attacking the sheep! Please help!”
But the villagers didn’t believe him. “He’s just playing another trick,” they said, shaking their heads. No one came to help.
By the time the boy returned to the field, the sheep were gone. Some had run into the forest, while others had been hurt by the wolf.
The boy sat on the hill, crying. He had lied too many times. Now, when he truly needed help, no one believed him.
Featured in the Book Audio available for B1 version
Once upon a time, a young shepherd boy took care of the village's sheep.
Each day, he led them to a grassy field near the forest and watched over them from a hill.
The boy often felt bored and lonely because there were no other children to play with.
One day, he had an idea for fun.
He ran to the village, shouting, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"
Hearing his cries, the villagers dropped everything and rushed to help.
But when they arrived, there was no wolf, and the sheep were fine.
The boy burst out laughing.
“I tricked you!” he giggled.
The villagers frowned.
“That’s not funny! Never lie about danger!” they scolded before marching back.
A few days later, the boy felt bored again.
He decided to play the same trick.
So he ran to the village and yelled, "Wolf! Wolf! A wolf is attacking the sheep!"
Once more, the villagers rushed to help.
But again, there was no wolf.
The boy rolled on the ground, laughing.
This time, the villagers were furious.
“Don’t cry wolf when there is no wolf!” they warned.
“One day, no one will believe you.”
The boy shrugged.
“They just don’t know how to have fun.”
Not long after, as the sky turned orange, the bushes rustled.
A real wolf appeared.
Its sharp teeth gleamed as it sneaked toward the sheep.
The boy’s heart pounded.
“Oh no! It’s real this time!”
He ran to the village as fast as he could, screaming, “Wolf! Wolf! A real wolf is attacking the sheep! Please help!”
But the villagers didn’t believe him.
“He’s just playing another trick,” they said, shaking their heads.
No one came to help.
By the time the boy returned to the field, the sheep were gone.
Some had run into the forest, while others had been hurt by the wolf.
The boy sat on the hill, crying.
He had lied too many times.
Now, when he truly needed help, no one believed him.
كان يا ما كان في قديم الزمان، في قرية صغيرة، كان هناك صبي راعي يرعى أغنام القرية. كل يوم، كان يأخذ الأغنام إلى حقل قريب لتأكل العشب بينما يراقبها من فوق التل.
شعر الصبي بالملل والوحدة لأنه لم يكن هناك أطفال آخرين ليلعب معهم. في يوم من الأيام، فكر في خدعة لتسلية نفسه. ركض إلى القرية، وبدأ يصيح بصوت عالٍ، "ذئب! ذئب! هناك ذئب يهاجم الأغنام!"
سمع القرويون صرخات الصبي العالية، وتركوا أعمالهم، وركضوا لمساعدته. لكن عندما وصلوا إلى الحقل، لم يروا أي ذئب، وكانت الأغنام آمنة. ضحك الصبي وقال إنه اخترع القصة. شعر القرويون بالغضب وبخوه لأنه جعلهم يقلقون دون سبب.
بعد بضعة أيام، قام الصبي بنفس الخدعة. ركض إلى القرية مرة أخرى، صارخًا، "ذئب! ذئب! هناك ذئب يهاجم الأغنام!" وجاء القرويون لمساعدته مرة أخرى، لكنهم اكتشفوا أنه لا يوجد ذئب. غضبوا كثيرًا هذه المرة، وأخبروه ألا يكذب عن وجود الذئب مرة أخرى.
في يوم من الأيام، بينما كان يراقب الأغنام، خرج ذئب حقيقي من الغابة وبدأ يتحرك نحو الأغنام. شعر الصبي بالخوف الشديد وصاح، "ذئب! ذئب! هناك ذئب يهاجم الأغنام هذه المرة!"
لكن القرويين لم يأتوا لمساعدته. ظنوا أن الصبي يكذب مرة أخرى لأنه خدعهم من قبل. هاجم الذئب الأغنام، وأصاب الكثير منها وجعل الآخرين يهربون بعيدًا.
شعر الصبي بالحزن الشديد وفهم أن كذبه كان السبب في خسارة أغنام القرية.
Es war einmal in einem kleinen Dorf ein Hirtenjunge, der auf die Schafe des Dorfes aufpasste.
Jeden Tag führte er die Schafe auf eine nahegelegene Wiese, damit sie Gras fressen konnten, während er sie von einem Hügel aus beobachtete.
Der Junge fühlte sich gelangweilt und einsam, weil er keine anderen Kinder zum Spielen hatte.
Eines Tages dachte er sich einen Streich aus, um sich zu amüsieren.
Er rannte ins Dorf und schrie laut: „Wolf! Wolf!
Ein Wolf greift die Schafe an!“
Die Dorfbewohner hörten die lauten Rufe des Jungen, ließen ihre Arbeit stehen und eilten herbei, um ihm zu helfen.
Doch als sie auf die Wiese kamen, sahen sie keinen Wolf, und die Schafe waren sicher.
Der Junge lachte und sagte, er habe sich die Geschichte nur ausgedacht.
Die Dorfbewohner waren verärgert und schimpften mit ihm, weil er ihnen ohne Grund Angst gemacht hatte.
Ein paar Tage später spielte der Junge denselben Streich.
Er rannte wieder ins Dorf und schrie: „Wolf! Wolf!
Ein Wolf greift die Schafe an!“
Die Dorfbewohner kamen erneut zu Hilfe, aber es gab wieder keinen Wolf.
Sie waren diesmal sehr wütend und sagten dem Jungen, er solle aufhören, über den Wolf zu lügen.
Eines Tages, als der Junge die Schafe beobachtete, kam ein echter Wolf aus dem Wald und begann, sich den Schafen zu nähern.
Der Junge hatte große Angst und rief: „Wolf! Wolf!
Diesmal greift wirklich ein Wolf die Schafe an!“
Aber die Dorfbewohner kamen nicht, um zu helfen.
Sie dachten, der Junge lüge wieder, weil er sie zuvor hereingelegt hatte.
Der Wolf griff die Schafe an, verletzte viele und ließ die anderen davonlaufen.
Der Junge war sehr traurig und verstand plötzlich, dass seine Lügen den Verlust der Schafe des Dorfes verursacht hatten.
एक समय की बात है, एक छोटे से गाँव में एक छोटा गड़रिया लड़का रहता था जो गाँव की भेड़ों की देखभाल करता था। हर दिन वह भेड़ों को घास चराने के लिए पास के मैदान में ले जाता और एक पहाड़ी से उनकी निगरानी करता।
लड़के को बहुत उबाऊ और अकेलापन महसूस होता था क्योंकि उसके साथ खेलने के लिए कोई और बच्चा नहीं था। एक दिन उसे एक मज़ाक सूझा ताकि वह अपना मनोरंजन कर सके। वह दौड़कर गाँव की ओर गया और जोर-जोर से चिल्लाने लगा, "भेड़िया! भेड़िया! एक भेड़िया भेड़ों पर हमला कर रहा है!"
गाँव वालों ने लड़के की चीखें सुनीं और अपना काम छोड़कर उसकी मदद करने दौड़ पड़े। लेकिन जब वे मैदान में पहुंचे, तो उन्होंने देखा कि वहाँ कोई भेड़िया नहीं था, और सभी भेड़ें सुरक्षित थीं। लड़का हंसने लगा और कहने लगा कि उसने बस ऐसे ही कहानी बनाई थी। गाँव वाले नाराज़ हो गए और उसे उन्हें बेवजह परेशान करने के लिए डांटने लगे।
कुछ दिनों बाद, लड़के ने फिर वही मज़ाक किया। वह फिर से गाँव की ओर भागा और चिल्लाने लगा, "भेड़िया! भेड़िया! एक भेड़िया भेड़ों पर हमला कर रहा है!" गाँव वाले फिर से उसकी मदद के लिए दौड़े, लेकिन जब उन्हें पता चला कि वहाँ कोई भेड़िया नहीं था, तो वे इस बार बहुत गुस्से में थे और लड़के से कहा कि अब वह झूठ न बोले।
फिर एक दिन, जब लड़का भेड़ों की देखभाल कर रहा था, तब सच में एक भेड़िया जंगल से बाहर आया और भेड़ों की तरफ बढ़ने लगा। लड़का बहुत डर गया और चिल्लाने लगा, "भेड़िया! भेड़िया! इस बार सच में भेड़िया भेड़ों पर हमला कर रहा है!"
लेकिन गाँव वाले उसकी मदद के लिए नहीं आए। उन्हें लगा कि लड़का फिर से झूठ बोल रहा है क्योंकि उसने पहले भी उनसे झूठ बोला था। भेड़िये ने भेड़ों पर हमला कर दिया, कई को घायल कर दिया और बाकी भेड़ें इधर-उधर भाग गईं।
लड़के को बहुत दुख हुआ, और उसे समझ आया कि उसके झूठ के कारण गाँव की भेड़ों का नुकसान हुआ।
Det var en gång i en liten by en ung herde, en pojke som tog hand om byns får. Varje dag ledde han dem till en äng i närheten där de kunde beta medan han höll vakt från en kulle.
Pojken kände sig ofta uttråkad och ensam eftersom han inte hade några andra barn att leka med. En dag kom han på ett bus för att roa sig själv. Han sprang till byn och ropade högt: "Varg! Varg! Det är en varg som attackerar fåren!"
Byborna hörde pojkens högljudda rop, lämnade sina sysslor och skyndade sig för att hjälpa honom. Men när de kom fram till ängen såg de ingen varg, och fåren var oskadda. Pojken skrattade och sa att han bara hade hittat på alltihop. Byborna blev arga och skällde på honom för att han oroat dem i onödan.
Några dagar senare gjorde pojken samma bus igen. Han sprang till byn och skrek: "Varg! Varg! Det är en varg som attackerar fåren!" Byborna kom för att hjälpa till igen, men insåg att det inte fanns någon varg. De blev ännu argare den här gången och sa till pojken att inte ljuga om vargen igen.
En dag medan han vaktade fåren kom en riktig varg ut ur skogen och började närma sig fåren. Pojken blev väldigt rädd och skrek: "Varg! Varg! Den här gången är det verkligen en varg som attackerar fåren!"
Men byborna kom inte skyndande för att hjälpa honom. De trodde att pojken ljög igen eftersom han hade lurat dem tidigare. Vargen attackerade fåren, skadade många och jagade iväg resten.
Pojken kände sig mycket ledsen och förstod att hans lögner hade lett till att byn förlorat sina får.
很久很久以前，在一个小村庄里，住着一个年轻的牧羊男孩，他负责照看村里的羊群。每天他都会带着羊群到附近的草地上吃草，他则坐在山坡上看着羊群。
因为没有其他孩子和他一起玩，男孩感到无聊又孤单。有一天，他想出了一个自娱自乐的主意。他跑到村里，大声喊道：“狼来了！狼来了！狼正在攻击羊群！”
村民们听到男孩的呼喊，放下手中的活儿，赶紧跑来帮忙。然而，当他们到达草地时，却没有看到狼，羊群也安然无恙。男孩哈哈大笑，说他只是编了个故事逗他们。村民们很生气，责备他不应该让大家白白担心。
几天后，男孩又玩起了同样的把戏。他再次跑到村里，喊道：“狼来了！狼来了！狼正在攻击羊群！”村民们再次赶来帮忙，但又一次发现根本没有狼出现。他们这次更加生气，严厉地警告男孩不要再撒谎了。
过了几天，当男孩正在看着羊群时，真正的狼从森林里跑了出来，朝着羊群走去。男孩吓坏了，拼命喊道：“狼来了！狼来了！这次真的有狼在攻击羊群！”
可是村民们没有再来帮忙。他们以为男孩又在撒谎，因为男孩以前骗过他们。结果，狼袭击了羊群，伤了很多羊，其余的羊也都跑散了。
男孩非常伤心，他明白了自己的谎言导致了村里羊群的损失。
Kwathi ke kaloku, inkwenkwana engumalusi yayikhathalela iigusha zaloo lali. Suku ngalunye, wayezikhokhelela kwintsimi enengca ekufuphi nehlathi aze azijonge endulwini.
Le nkwenkwana yayidla ngokuziva ikruqukile yaye inesithukuthezi kuba kwakungekho bantwana bambi bokudlala nabo. Ngenye imini, wayenombono wokuzonwabisa. Wabalekela elalini, ekhwaza esithi, "Ingcuka! Ingcuka! Ingcuka ihlasela igusha!"
Besiva isikhalo sakhe, abahlali baloo lali balahla yonke into baza bagxalathelana ukuya kunceda. Kodwa bakufika, kwakungekho ngcuka, yaye izimvu zaziphilile. Inkwenkwe yagqabhuka yintsini.
“Ndiniqhathile!” wagigitheka.
Abahlali baloo lali bafinga iintshiya. “Ayihlekisi lonto ungaze uxoke ngengozi!” bamthethisa ngaphambi kokuba babuye umva.
Emva Kweentsuku ezimbalwa, le nkwenkwana yaphinda yabanesithukuthezi. Wagqiba ekubeni adlale iqhinga elifanayo. Ngoko wabalekela elalini waza wakhwaza esithi, "Ingcuka! Ingcuka! Ingcuka ihlasela igusha!"
Kwakhona, babaleka abahlali belali bayonceda, kodwa kwakhona, kwakungekho ngcuka. Yaqengqeleka inkwenkwe emhlabeni, ihleka.
Kwelixa, abahlali belali babenomsindo “Musa uthi ingcuka! ,ingcuka! xa kungekho ngcuka.” batsho bemlumkisa. “Ngenye imini, akuyi kubakho mntu oza kukukholwa.
Yanyusa amagxa inkwenkwe yathi “abayazi indlela yokonwaba.”
Zange kube kudala, isibhakabhaka saguquka, amahlahla arhashaza. Ingcuka yokwenene ye gqi. Amazinyo ayo abukhali ekhazimla njengoko yayisondela kwiigusha.
Yabetha kakhulu intliziyo yekwekwe. “Hayi, yenzeka nyani ngoku! “
Wabalekela elalini ngokukhawuleza kangangoko wayenako, ekhala, “Ingcuka!” “Ingcuka! Ingcuka yokwenene ihlasela iigusha! Ndicela uncedo!”
Kodwa abantu belali abazange bamkholelwe. “Udlala nje elinye iqhinga,” batsho, beshukumisa intloko zabo. Akukho mntu weza kumnceda.
Kwathi xa inkwenkwe ibuyela entsimini, iigusha zazingasekho. ezinye zabalekela ehlathini, noxa ezinye zonzakaliswe yingcuka.
Inkwenkwe yahlala phezu kwenduli, ilila. Wayexoke izihlandlo ezininzi. Ngoku, xa wayefuna uncedo ngokwenene, akukho mntu wamkholelwayo.
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Word Finder
Shepherd
A person who takes care of sheep.Villagers
People who live in a small town.Grassy
Covered with lots of green grass everywhere.Frowned
Face looks unhappy or upset.Scolded
Spoke angrily to correct bad behavior.Furious
Very, very angry about something.Shrugged
Lifted shoulders to show not caring.Rustled
Made a soft, crackling sound.Sneaked
Moved quietly to not be seen.Gleamed
Shined brightly in the light.
Understanding Questions
- Why did the shepherd boy feel bored and lonely?
- What did the boy do to entertain himself the first time he felt bored?
- How did the villagers react the first time they discovered there was no wolf?
- What was the villagers' response the second time the boy lied about the wolf?
- What happened to the sheep when a real wolf came after the boy had lied twice about a wolf attack?
Reflection Questions
1. Why did the shepherd boy shout “Wolf!” the first time?
2. What happened when the real wolf came to attack the sheep?
3. Have you ever told a lie that caused others not to believe you later?
4. Why is it important to tell the truth, even if it’s tempting to lie?
5. Are there situations in which not telling the truth is okay?
Fable Quotes
When you speak the truth, trust blooms like a flower.
Trust is earned by words and deeds, not by tricks and lies.
Deception sows seeds of sorrow, reaping a harvest of regret.
Just One More Fable
- Humility
- Appreciation
The Candles
A proud wax candle and a humble tallow candle find happiness in their different, yet meaningful, lives.
- Wisdom
- Trickery
The Thief and His Monkey
A clever merchant tricks people into buying stolen, old clothes by wrapping them in attractive paper and selling them.
- Consequences
- Justice
The Eagle and the Fox
An eagle eats a fox cub, then her eaglets die in a fire, and the fox eats them as revenge.
- Problem-Solving
- Deception
The Jackal's Strategy
A cunning jackal discovers a dead elephant but struggles to open it; he tricks other animals to help and finally enjoys the feast alone.
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“The Boy Who Cried Wolf” is one of the 25 illustrated fables in our book, 25 Fables for Fun Quality Time.
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