Al-hikma wa l-tamaasa
1 Al-dubbaan al-mayyit
yihammid wa yiʼaffin
al-dihin hana siid al-itir.
Wa misil da, chiyya min al-tamaasa
titallif al-hikma wa l-charaf.
2 Galb al-hakiim
yimayyil ale l-tariig al-adiil
wa galb al-matmuus
yimayyil ale l-tariig al-aʼwaj.
3 Wa wakit al-matmuus yamchi fi l-derib,
yinʼarif kadar hu ma indah fihim
wa yiwassif le l-naas
kadar fikrah mahduud.

4 Wakit al-malik yazʼal diddak,
angariʼ, ma tikhalli bakaanak.
Agood haadi
wa da yinajjiik min zunuub katiir.
5 Fiyah fasaala ana chiftaha fi l-ard
wa l-fasaala di, hi khata jaayi min al-malik.
6 Al-mataamiis yukhuttuuhum
fi bakaan aali ziyaada
wa l-khaniyiin yukhuttuuhum
fi bakaan tihit.
7 Ana chift battaan abiid raakbiin fi kheel
wa masaaʼiil maachiin be rijleehum misil abiid.
Ayyi amal indah khutuura
8 Al-yankut nugra,
akuun yagaʼ foogha
wa l-yisawwi khurma,
akuun daabi yiʼaddiih.
9 Al-yagtaʼ al-hajar,
akuun yinjarih
wa l-yichaggig al-hatab,
yadkhul fi l-khatar.
10 Al-faas kan kaalle wa ma tarragooha,
waajib gudra ziyaada fi istiʼmaalha.
Khalaas, faaydit al-hikma
hi al-najaah.
11 Kan naadum yaʼarif yihaddi al-daabi
wa l-daabi yiʼaddiih,
chunu al-faayde al-yalgaaha ?
Ma tikallim katiir
12 Wakit al-hakiim yihajji,
kalaamah yaʼajib al-naas
wa laakin lisaan al-matmuus
yiwaddirah.
13 Kalaamah fi l-bidaaya hu tamaasa
wa fi l-nihaaya hu jahaala wa charr.
14 Al-naadum al-fikrah mahduud,
yikattir kalaamah.
Wa l-insaan ma yaʼarif al-yukuun
wa yaatu al-yikhabbirah
be l-yukuun baʼad mootah ?
15 Khidmit al-matmuus tiʼayyiih
lahaddi ma yaʼarif derib
al-yiwaddiih le l-madiina !

16 Al-azaab le l-balad al-malikha sabi
wa kubaaraatha yaakulu tuul al-yoom !
17 Mabruuk le l-balad al-malikha min iyaal al-chuyuukh
wa kubaaraatha yaakulu fi wakit munaasib
le yalgo gudra bala sakar !
18 Fi wakt al-kasal,
raas al-beet yagaʼ
wa wakt al-iide yinrakhu,
al-beet yinaggit.
19 Al-naas yisawwu akil le yadhako
wa l-khamar le yifarruhu hayaathum.
Wa laakin be l-gurus,
yalgo kulla cheyy.
20 Ma talʼan al-malik
hatta fi daakhal galbak kula
wa fi beetak wiheedak,
ma talʼan al-khani.
Achaan al-teeraay tiwaddi al-khabar
wa tihajji be l-cheyy al-inta gultah.