1. I swore I would not attain perfection in love
For he who attained perfection is imperfect

2. I single him out with love apart from all people
For he has distinction and traits above them

3. His faith and bonds of loyalty proved true
When it was tested and he was faithful to me

4. A loyal friend is rare so if you gain loyalty
Guard it for loyal friends have flaws

5. People's faces and their affection may ransom you
While the eyes of the envious peer with blame

6. I isolated myself in stillness from them
In events and every disappearing shadow

7. I lent them my affection yet they went past me with it
To evil, though each borrower is a withholder

8. Like water it was clear the shadow was inverted in it
So the heads appeared inverted in it from the feet

9. Tell the foxes do not be fooled by seclusion
In the forest when the hunter is absent from it

10. He will return seeking prey, powerful
And the prey will shudder in fear

11. All have reneged on their oath of loyalty to me
All have turned back from affection

12. They have beliefs filled with malice
The knots of hypocrisy as if bite marks

13. The branch relates the defects of its origin
And it has defects just like it and blemishes

14. An ignoble person's praise is evil, his honor
Is disgrace and the one who censures him is unyielding

15. You are the one who helped me with advice
When the turns of fate were confusing and bewildering

16. I did not go astray when I probed its hidden depths
Thinking no, the loyal friend is indeed probing

17. And he poured me a stream of lavish loyalty
While the palms of all people are withholding

18. How I resented until I deemed your affection an ocean
Yet sometimes the orphan attains what is unattainable

19. I will come to you for a meeting laden with yearning
O best of those to whom the yearning flocked