Dual Panel1Well, I took all this in and thought it through, inside and out. Here's what I understood: The good, the wise, and all that they do are in God's hands--but, day by day, whether it's love or hate they're dealing with, they don't know. Anything's possible.
2It's one fate for everybody--righteous and wicked, good people, bad people, the nice and the nasty, worshipers and non-worshipers, committed and uncommitted.
3I find this outrageous--the worst thing about living on this earth--that everyone's lumped together in one fate. Is it any wonder that so many people are obsessed with evil? Is it any wonder that people go crazy right and left? Life leads to death. That's it.
4Still, anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, "A living dog is better than a dead lion."
5The living at least know [something], even if it's only that they're going to die. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They're a minus that no one remembers.
6Their loves, their hates, yes, even their dreams, are long gone. There's not a trace of them left in the affairs of this earth.
7Seize life! Eat bread with gusto, Drink wine with a robust heart. Oh yes--God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
8Dress festively every morning. Don't skimp on colors and scarves.
9Relish life with the spouse you love Each and every day of your precarious life. Each day is God's gift. It's all you get in exchange For the hard work of staying alive. Make the most of each one!
10Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily! This is your last and only chance at it, For there's neither work to do nor thoughts to think In the company of the dead, where you're most certainly headed.
11I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is--The race is not always to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor satisfaction to the wise, Nor riches to the smart, Nor grace to the learned. Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.
12No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden.
13One day as I was observing how wisdom fares on this earth, I saw something that made me sit up and take notice.
14There was a small town with only a few people in it. A strong king came and mounted an attack, building trenches and attack posts around it.
15There was a poor but wise man in that town whose wisdom saved the town, but he was promptly forgotten. (He was only a poor man, after all.)
16All the same, I still say that wisdom is better than muscle, even though the wise poor man was treated with contempt and soon forgotten.
17The quiet words of the wise are more effective Than the ranting of a king of fools.
18Wisdom is better than warheads, But one hothead can ruin the good earth.