English: Even if the intelligent one pretending to be foolish overlooks me, and the loving friend defends me
Yoruba: Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé bi ọlọ́gbọ́n tí ń ṣe bí òmùgọ̀ ba fojú fo mi, tí ọ̀rẹ́ olùfẹ́ sì gbèjà mi
English: I can hardly escape from an ignorant fool or a malicious one pretending to be ignorant
Yoruba: Ó fẹ́rẹ̀ jẹ́ pé n kò lè bọ́ lọ́wọ́ aṣiwèrè aláìmọ̀kan tàbí ẹni búburú tí ń ṣe bí ẹni tí kò mọ̀
English: Who belittles me for this composition and denounces it as being among the prohibitions of the law
Yoruba: Tí ó ń foju kere mi fún ìwé yìí tí mo kọ tí ó sì ń sọ pé ó wà lára àwọn ohun tí òfin kọ̀
English: And whoever critiques things with the eye of reason and scrutinizes the foundations of principles
Yoruba: Àti ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá ṣe àgbéyẹ̀wò àwọn nǹkan pẹ̀lú ojú ìdájọ́ tí ó sì ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwọn ìpìlẹ̀ òfin
English: Arranges these Maqamat in the string of useful lessons and threads them in the path of topics about animals and inanimate objects
Yoruba: YÓ to àwọn MaKama wọ̀nyí sínú àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ tí ó wúlò tí ó sì tò wọ́n sí ọ̀nà àwọn orí ọ̀rọ̀ nípa àwọn ẹranko àti àwọn ohun tí kò lẹ́mìí
English: And has not heard of anyone whose hearing recoiled from those stories or who accused their narrators of sin at any time
Yoruba: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò gbọ́ nípa ẹnikẹ́ni tí etí rẹ̀ kọ̀ àwọn ìtàn wọ̀nyí sílẹ̀ tàbí tí ó fi ẹ̀sùn ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ kan àwọn olùròyìn wọn ní àkókò kankan
English: Then, if deeds are by intentions, and by them religious contracts are formed
Yoruba: Lẹ́yìn náà, bí iṣẹ́ bá jẹ́ nípa èrò inú, àti nípa wọn ni a ṣe n dé awon ọrọ ẹ̀sìn
English: Then what blame is there on one who created witticisms for warning, not for deception, and aimed with them towards refinement, not lies?
Yoruba: Nígbà náà, ẹ̀bi wo ló wà lórí ẹni tí ó ṣẹ̀dá àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ owe fún ìkìlọ̀, kì í ṣe fún ẹ̀tàn, tí ó sì ní èrò ìdàgbàsókè pẹ̀lú wọn, kì í ṣe irọ́?
English: And is he in that except in the position of one who volunteered for teaching or guided to a straight path?
Yoruba: Ṣé kò sì wà ní ipò ẹni tí ó yàn láti kọ́ni tàbí tí ó tọ́ ni sí ọ̀nà tí ó tọ́?
English: However, I am content to bear passion and to be free from it, neither against me nor for me
Yoruba: Síbẹ̀síbẹ̀, mo ní ìtẹ́lọ́rùn láti ru ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ àti láti bọ́ lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀, kì í ṣe lòdì sí mi tàbí fún mi