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Chapter 41

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¹ O death! how bitter the thought of you for the man at peace amid his possessions, For the man unruffled and always successful, who still can enjoy life's pleasures.

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O death! how welcome your sentence to the weak man of failing strength, Tottering and always rebuffed, with no more sight, with vanished hope.

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Fear not death's decree for you; remember, it embraces those before you, and those after.

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Thus God has ordained for all flesh; why then should you reject the will of the Most High? Whether one has lived a thousand years, a hundred, or ten, in the nether world he has no claim on life.

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A reprobate line are the children of sinners, and witless offspring are in the homes of the wicked.

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Their dominion is lost to sinners' children, and reproach abides with their descendants.

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Children curse their wicked father, for they suffer disgrace through him.

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Woe to you, O sinful men, who forsake the law of the Most High.

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If you have children, calamity will seize them; you will beget them only for groaning. When you stumble, there is lasting joy; at death, you become a curse.

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Whatever is of nought returns to nought, so too the godless from void to void.

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Man's body is a fleeting thing, but a virtuous name will never be annihilated.

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Have a care for your name, for it will stand by you better than precious treasures in the thousands;

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² The boon of life is for limited days, but a good name, for days without number.

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³ My children, heed my instruction about shame; judge of disgrace only according to my rules, For it is not always well to be ashamed, nor is it always the proper thing to blush:

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Before father and mother be ashamed of immorality, before master and mistress, of falsehood;

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Before prince and ruler, of flattery; before the public assembly, of crime;

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Before friend and companion, of disloyalty, and of breaking an oath or agreement.

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Be ashamed of theft from the people where you settle, and of stretching out your elbow when you dine;

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Of refusing to give when asked, of defrauding another of his appointed share,

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Of failing to return a greeting, and of rebuffing a friend;

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Of gazing at a married woman, and of entertaining thoughts about another's wife; Of trifling with a servant girl you have, and of violating her couch;

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Of using harsh words with friends, and of following up your gifts with insults;

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Of repeating what you hear, and of betraying secrets - 

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These are the things you should rightly avoid as shameful if you would be looked upon by everyone with favor.