يَقولُ لِيَ القاضي مُعاذٌ مُشاوِراً

وَوَلّى اِمرءاً فيما يَرى مِن ذَوي العَدلِ

The judge Mu'adh says to me, consulting,

And he appointed a man in what he sees from among those of justice.

فَدَيتُكَ ماذا تَحسَبُ المَرءَ صانِعاً

فَقُلتُ وَماذا يَفعَلُ الدُبُّ في النَحلِ

I ransom you - what do you think a man would do?

So I said, "And what does a bear do in a beehive?"

يَدُقُّ خَلاياها وَيَأَكُلُ شَهدَها

وَيَترُكُ لِلذِبانِ ما كانَ مِن فَضلِ

It knocks down its cells and eats its honey

And leaves the flies what was left over.