1. The minds of a people have rusted; can they be polished?
And swords need sharpening.

2. How the world has deceived its people!
I dislike the company of people; they gossip and babble.

3. I will follow those who call to good, striving,
And leave it when my only leader is my intellect.

4. When it sends me off, not to return,
I will leave it with the burden it loaded on me.

5. Changer of conditions, breaker of strengths,
Binder of shackles, restrainer of intellects.

6. The souls whispered to each other in the heat after
The spears had whispered to each other in the time of cooking greens.

7. And whoever judges things by proof,
To him are equal those he loves and those he dislikes.