الْمَقَامَةُ الْمَعَرِّيَّةُ

Even if he does not covet its softness.

Bí kò tilẹ̀ ń ṣe ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ sí jíjẹ́ rọrùn rẹ̀.

Then the judge said to them: Either you clarify.

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

Or else both of you should depart

Bí bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́, kí ẹ kúrò.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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