1. For they said within themselves, reasoning not aright, Short and sorrowful is our life; And there is no healing when a man comes to his end, And none was ever known that gave release from Hades.
2. Because by mere chance were we born, And hereafter we shall be as though we had never been: Because the breath in our nostrils is smoke, And while our heart beats reason is a spark,
3. Which being extinguished, the body shall be turned into ashes, And the spirit shall be dispersed as thin air;
4. And our name shall be forgotten in time, And no man shall remember our works; And our life shall pass away as the traces of a cloud, And shall be scattered as is a mist, When it is chased by the beams of the sun, And overcome by the heat thereof.
5. For our alloted time is the passing of a shadow, And our end retreats not; Because it is fast sealed, and none turns it back.
6. Come therefore and let us enjoy the good things that now are; And let us use the creation with all our soul as youth’s possession.
7. Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and perfumes; And let no flower of spring pass us by:
8. Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds, before they be withered:
9. Let none of us go without his share in our proud revelry: Everywhere let us leave tokens of our mirth: Because this is our portion, and our lot is this.
10. Let us oppress the righteous poor; Let us not spare the widow, Nor reverence the hairs of the old man gray for length of years.
11. But let our strength be to us a law of righteousness; For that which is weak is found to be of no service.