| 1 A hard lot has been created for human beings, a heavy yoke lies on the children of Adam from the daythey come out of their mother's womb, till the day they return to the mother of them al . |
| 2 What fills them with foreboding and their hearts with fear is dread of the day of death. |
| 3 From the one who sits on a glorious throne to the wretch in dust and ashes, |
| 4 from the one who wears purple and a crown to the one dressed in sacking, al is fury and jealousy,turmoil and unrest, fear of death, rivalry, strife. |
| 5 And even at night while he rests on his bed his sleep only gives a new twist to his worries: |
| 6 scarcely has he lain down to rest, when in his sleep, as if in broad daylight, he is troubled withnightmares, like one who has escaped from a battle, |
| 7 and at the moment of rescue he wakes up, amazed that there was nothing to be afraid of! |
| 8 For al creatures, human and animal -- and seven times more for sinners- |
| 9 there is death and blood and strife and the sword, disasters, famine, affliction, plague. |
| 10 These things were al created for the wicked, and the Flood came because of them. |
| 11 Al that comes from the earth returns to the earth, and what comes from the water returns to the sea. |
| 12 Al bribery and injustice wil be blotted out, but good faith wil stand for ever. |
| 13 Il -gotten wealth will vanish like a torrent, like the single thunder-clap that heralds rain. |
| 14 When he opens his hand, he rejoices, by the same token, sinners come to ruin. |
| 15 The sprigs of the godless wil not make many branches, tainted roots find only hard rock. |
| 16 The reed that grows by every lake and river's edge is the first plant to be uprooted. |
| 17 Charity is a very paradise of blessing and almsgiving endures for ever. |
| 18 For a person of private means and one who works hard, life is pleasant, better off than either, one whofinds a treasure. |
| 19 Children and the founding of a city perpetuate a name: more esteemed than either, a perfect wife. |
| 20 Wine and music cheer the heart; better than either, the love of wisdom. |
| 21 Flute and harp add sweetness to a song; better than either, a melodious voice. |
| 22 The eye longs for grace and beauty; better than either, the green of spring corn. |
| 23 Friend or comrade -- it is always wel met; better than either, a wife and husband. |
| 24 Brothers and al ies are good in times of trouble; better than either, almsgiving to the rescue. |
| 25 Gold and silver wil steady your feet; more esteemed than either, good advice. |
| 26 Money and strength make a confident heart; better than either, the fear of the Lord. With fear of theLord, nothing is lacking: no need to seek for other help. |
| 27 Fear of the Lord is a paradise of blessing, a better protection than the highest reputation. |
| 28 My child, do not live by sponging off others, better be dead than be a sponger. |
| 29 A life spent in eyeing someone else's table cannot be accounted a life at al . Other people's fooddefiles the gul et; a wise, wel -brought-up person wil beware of doing this. |
| 30 What a sponger says may sound very sweet but in his bel y there burns a fire. |