الْمَقَامَةُ الْمَعَرِّيَّةُ

English: Even if he does not covet its softness.

Yoruba: Bí kò tilẹ̀ ń ṣe ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ sí jíjẹ́ rọrùn rẹ̀.

English: Then the judge said to them: Either you clarify.

Yoruba: Nígbà náà ni adájọ́ wí fún wọn pé: Ẹ má ṣàlàyé.

English: Or else both of you should depart

Yoruba: Bí bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́, kí ẹ kúrò.

English: The boy hastened and said: He lent me a needle to mend rags that has worn out and blackened by decay.

Yoruba: Ọmọkùnrin náà yára wí pé: Ó yá mi ní abẹ́rẹ́ kan láti tún aṣọ tó ti gbó tí ó sì ti dúdú ṣé

English: It broke in my hand by mistake when I pulled its thread.

Yoruba: Ó sì ṣẹ́ ní ọwọ́ mi nítorí àṣìṣe mi nígbà tí mo fà okùn rẹ̀.

English: The elder did not see fit to forgive me its compensation when he saw its bent state.

Yoruba: Àgbàlagbà kò rí i pé kí ó dárí jì mí fún iye rẹ̀ nígbà tí ó rí bí ó ṣe tẹ̀.

English: Instead, he said: Bring a needle like it or its value after you have tested its quality.

Yoruba: Dípò bẹ́ẹ̀, ó wí pé: Mú abẹ́rẹ́ tó jọ ọ́ wá tàbí iye rẹ̀ lẹ́yìn tí o bá ti dán an wò.

English: And he took my kohl stick as a deposit, and that's enough of a disgrace to carry.

Yoruba: Ó sì gba igi tìrò mi gẹ́gẹ́ bí ìdógò, èyí tó tó fún ìtìjú láti rù.

English: The eye is a pasture for his pledge, and my hand falls short of releasing its applicator.

Yoruba: Ojú jẹ́ pápá fún ẹ̀rí rẹ̀, ọwọ́ mi kò sì tó láti tú igi tìrò náà sílẹ̀.

English: So probe with this explanation the depth of my poverty, and have mercy on one who is not accustomed to it.

Yoruba: Nítorí náà, fi àlàyé yìí wádìí jìnlẹ̀ òṣì mi, kí o sì ṣàánú fún ẹni tí kò mọ́ irú rẹ̀ rí.