9. All of them passed like a shadowand like a fleeting rumor;
10. Like a ship traversing the heaving water:when it has passed, no trace can be found,no path of its keel in the waves.
11. Or like a bird flying through the air;no evidence of its course is to be found—But the fluid air, lashed by the beating of pinions,and cleft by the rushing forceOf speeding wings, is traversed;and afterward no mark of passage can be found in it.
12. Or as, when an arrow has been shot at a mark,the parted air straightway flows together againso that none discerns the way it went—
13. Even so, once born, we abruptly came to noughtand held no sign of virtue to display,but were consumed in our wickedness.”
14. Yes, the hope of the wicked is like chaff borne by the wind,and like fine, storm-driven snow;Like smoke scattered by the wind,and like the passing memory of the nomad camping for a single day.
15. But the righteous live forever,and in the Lord is their recompense,and the thought of them is with the Most High.
16. Therefore shall they receive the splendid crown,the beautiful diadem, from the hand of the Lord,For he will shelter them with his right hand,and protect them with his arm.
17. He shall take his zeal for armorand arm creation to requite the enemy,