The Burdens of Human Life

1 Great toil is created for every man. A heavy yoke is on the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming out of their mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things.⁠a 2 The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear in their hearts. 3 From him who sits on a throne of glory, to him who is humbled in earth and ashes, 4 from him who wears purple and a crown, to him who is clothed in burlap, 5 there is fury, jealousy, trouble, unrest, fear of death, anger, and quarrels. When he rests on his bed, his night’s sleep changes his knowledge. 6 He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as though spending a day keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, like someone who has escaped from the front of battle. 7 In the very time of his rescue, he awakens, and marvels that the fear is nothing.

8 To all creatures, human and animal, and on sinners seven times more, 9 come death, bloodshed, quarrels, sword, disasters, famine, suffering, and plague. 10 All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came. 11 All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again. All things that are of the waters return to the sea.⁠b

The Endurance of Goodness

12 All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever. 13 The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and will vanish noisily like loud thunder in rain. 14 A man will be made glad when he opens his hands, and so lawbreakers will utterly fail. 15 The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are like unhealthy roots on a sheer rock.⁠c 16 The reeds by every water or river bank will be pulled up before all grass. 17 Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Giving to the poor endures forever.

The Best Gifts in Life

18 The life of one who labors and is content will be made sweet. He who finds a treasure is better than both. 19 Children and the building of a city establish a name. A blameless wife is better than both. 20 Wine and music make the heart glad. The love of wisdom is better than both. 21 The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both. 22 Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both. 23 A friend and a companion are always welcome, and a wife with her husband is better than both. 24 Relatives and helpers are for a time of distress, but giving to the poor rescues better than both. 25 Gold and silver will make the foot stand firm, and advice is valued better than both. 26 Riches and strength will lift up the heart. The fear of the Lord is better than both. There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord. In it, there is no need to seek help. 27 The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing and covers a man more than any glory.

The Burden of Begging

28 My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg. 29 If a man looks to another’s table, his life cannot be called a life. He will pollute his soul with another person’s food, but a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that. 30 Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it ignites a fire in his belly.