1. أَتَيتُكَ قَاضِي البَيَاضِينِ والعَجَم

    عَلَىَّ حِمَارٌ مَعهُ شَاةٌ له تُضم

    I have come to you, judge of the white people and the non-Arabs.

    I owe a donkey, with a sheep added to it.

  2. فإِن كَانَ في القَانُونِ أني اشتَرِى

    حماراً بِلاَ حُمرٍ وشَاةً بِلاغَنَم

    So if the law requires me to buy

    a donkey though I have no donkeys, and a sheep though I have no sheep,

  3. فَسَمعاً وطَوعاً بالذي فِيهِ عَاجِلاً

    وإلاَّ فَمَحواً بالدَّوَاةِ وبِالقَلَمِ

    then I shall promptly heed and obey what it says;

    otherwise, let it be erased with inkwell and pen.