1. سِيدِي إِن جِئتَهُ بِعِلكٍ كَثِيرٍ

    في فِئَامٍ مَتبُوعَةٍ بِفَئَامِ

    If you come to Sidi with much gum,

    in throngs followed by throngs,

  2. يَزِنُ العِلكَ وَزنَ مَن يَعرِفُ الوَز

    نَ مِنَ السَّادَاتِ التًّجَارِ الكِرَامِ

    he weighs the gum as one who knows weighing,

    one of the eminent, honorable merchants.

  3. وِإذَا جِئتَ طَالِباً القَضَاءَ

    بَعدَ نَومٍ الضُّحَى بِطُولِ المَنَامِ

    And if you come seeking judgment,

    after a lengthy midmorning sleep,

  4. يَكِلُ الأمرَ لِلتُّهَامِى الوَي

    لُ لِمَن آلَ أمرُهُ لِلتُّهَامِي

    he entrusts the matter to al-Tuhami—woe

    to anyone whose case has fallen to al-Tuhami!