1 a bAh!c Death, how bitter is dthe remembrance of theed b

To hime fthat liveth at peacef in ghis habitationg;

hTo him that is at easeh, and prospereth in all,

And that still hath strength to enjoy luxuryi.

2 Hail! Death, howk welcome is thy decreel

mTo the luckless manm, and that lacketh strength,

nThat stumbleth and trippethn oat everythingo,

pThat is brokenp, qand hath lost hopeq.

HB 3 rFear not Death, (it is) thy destinyr,

Remember that the former and the latter (share it) with thee.

4 This is the portions of all flesh from God,

tAnd how canst thou withstandu the decreev oft the Most High!

w(Be it) for a thousand years, for a hundred, or for ten (that thou livest)w,

In Sheol there are nox reproaches concerning life.

(e) 41:5–13. The end of the ungodly contrasted with the honour accorded to the name of the righteous

(= 3 + 3 + 1 + 3 distichs).