Painful is the lot of all humans, a heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam from the day they leave their mother’s womb to the day they return to the mother of us all.

What is on their mind, what they fear in their heart, is the day of their death. From the king, glorious on his throne, robed in purple and wearing a crown, to the lowliest person sitting in dust and ashes and covered with sackcloth, there is anger, envy, trouble and unrest, fear of death, rivalry and quarrels.

And at night when we lie down we have fresh worries: scarcely are we at rest and asleep when we are troubled by dreams as vivid as if it were day and we were fleeing from a battle. When it is time to wake up, we feel surprised to find that there is nothing to fear.

This is the fate of every living creature, man and beast, but for sinners it is seven times worse, in death, bloodshed, strife, sword, misfortune, famine, affliction and calamity. All these were created for the wicked, and the flood as well was sent on their account.

Everything that comes from the earth goes back to the earth, and what comes from the waters return to the sea.

All bribery, all injustice will disappear but good faith will last forever.

The unjust riches will vanish like stream that dries up; they will crash like clap of thunder during a downpour.