الْمَقَامَةُ الصَّنْعَانِيَّةُ

And I stuck my hook in every unripe date

Mo sì fi ìwọ̀ mi sí gbogbo ọ̀pọ̀tọ́ tí kò tíì pọ́n

And I made my preaching a trap

Mo sì sọ ìwàásù mi di pakute

With which I hunt man and woman

Tí mo fi ń dẹ okunrin ati obinrin

Time forced me until I entered

Àkókò fipa mu mi mọ́lẹ̀ títí mo fi wọlé

With my subtle trickery, into the lion's den

Pẹ̀lú ọgbọ́n ẹ̀tàn mi, sínú ihò kìnnìún

Though I did not fear its pure form

Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé n kò bẹ̀rù irú rẹ̀ gangan

Nor did any of my muscles twitch from it

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò sí iṣan ara mi tí ó mì nítorí rẹ̀

Nor did it lead me to a watering place

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni kò mú mi lọ sí ibi ìmumi

Where a greedy soul would sully my honor

Níbi tí ẹ̀mí ojukokoro yóò ti bà ọlá mi jẹ́

If time were just in its ruling

Tí àkókò bá ṣe déédéé nínú ìdájọ́ rẹ̀