الْمَقَامَةُ الْفُرَاتِيَّةُ

He who deserves elevation, raise him up; but he who deserves to be lowered, cast him into the pit.

Ẹni tó tọ́ si ìgbéga, gbé e sókè; ṣùgbọ́n ẹni tó tọ́ si ìrẹ̀nlẹ̀, ju u sínú iho rẹ.

Know that gold in the vein of earth remains hidden until it is unearthed by digging.

Mọ̀ dájúdájú pé wúrà nínú iṣan ilẹ̀ ló pamọ́ sí, títí a ó fi wà á jáde nípa gbígbẹ́ ilẹ̀.

The virtue of the dinar reveals its secret through rubbing, not from the beauty of its engraving.

Ẹ̀yẹ owó dínárì, àṣírí rẹ̀ yóò máa hàn nípa gbígbẹ́ rẹ, kì í ṣe nípa ẹwà àmì rẹ̀.

It is foolish to exalt an ignorant person for the polish of his clothes and the luster of his embroidery.

Ó jẹ́ àìgbọ́n láti gbé aláìmọ̀ ga nítorí dídán aṣọ rẹ̀ àti ẹwà ìṣẹ́ ọnà rẹ̀.

Or to humiliate a refined person for the wear of his garments and the shabbiness of his furnishings.

Tàbí láti ta ẹni tí ó ní ìwà rere lójú nítorí aṣọ rẹ̀ ti gbó àti ohun èlò rẹ̀ ti bàjẹ́.

How many a brother in tattered clothes is revered for his virtue, while one in striped cloaks is reproached for his obscenity.

Ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àlaṣọ àkísà méjì tí a bọ̀wọ̀ fún nítorí ìwà rere rẹ̀, nígbà tí ẹni tó wọ aṣọ alawọ̀ dídán ń jìyà nítorí ìwà búburú rẹ̀.

When a youth is not covered in shame, his rags become nothing but the steps to his throne.

Nígbà tí ọ̀dọ́ kò ní ìtìjú, aṣọ òṣì rẹ̀ di àtẹ̀gùn sí ìtẹ́ ọba rẹ̀.

The sword is not harmed by its worn sheath, nor is the falcon by the lowliness of its nest.

Idà kò ní ìpalára nítorí àkọ̀ rẹ̀ ti gbó, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni àṣá kò ní ìpalára nítorí ìyẹpẹ́rẹ́ ìtẹ́ rẹ̀.

Then it wasn't long before he stopped the sailor, disembarked from the ship, and wandered off.

Lẹ́yìn náà kò pẹ́ tí ó fi dá atukọ̀ dúró, ó sọ̀kalẹ̀ lórí ọkọ̀ omi, ó sì rin lọ.

Each of us regretted what had escaped from within, and lowered our eyelids over our faults.

Gbogbo wa ní ìrònú ohun tí a ti ṣe, a sì bo ojú wa mọ́lẹ̀ lórí àṣìṣe wa.