1. A great anxiety has God allotted,and a heavy yoke, to the children of Adam,From the day they leave their mother’s wombuntil the day they return to the mother of all the living.
2. Troubled thoughts and fear of heart are theirsand anxious foreboding until death.
3. Whether one sits on a lofty throneor grovels in dust and ashes,
4. Whether one wears a splendid crownor is clothed in the coarsest of garments—
5. There is wrath and envy, trouble and dread,terror of death, fury and strife.Even when one lies on his bed to rest,his cares disturb his sleep at night.
6. So short is his rest it seems like none,till in his dreams he struggles as he did by day,Troubled by the visions of his mind,like a fugitive fleeing from the pursuer.
7. As he reaches safety, he wakes up,astonished that there was nothing to fear.
8. To all flesh, human being and beast,but for sinners seven times more,
9. Come plague and bloodshed, fiery heat and drought,plunder and ruin, famine and death.
10. For the wicked evil was created,and because of them destruction hastens.
11. All that is of earth returns to earth,and what is from above returns above.
12. All that comes from bribes or injustice will be wiped out,but loyalty remains forever.