1 Hard work was createdfor every person,and a heavy yoke lies uponhuman beings,from the day when they leavetheir mother’s wombuntil the day when they returnto the mother of all.
2 Anxious expectation—the day of death—fills their inner musingsand plants fear in their hearts.
3 From the person who sitsupon a glorious thronedown to the person brought lowin dust and ashes,
4 from the person who wears purpleand a crowndown to the person dressedin rough linen—
5 there exists anger, envy, confusion, unrest, fear of death,fury, and conflict.Even when they rest in bed,nighttime dreams disturb their mind.
6 They get little or no rest;they even toil in their dreams,just as they do in the day,being troubled by images in their mind,as one who escapes from war.
7 They wake up at the mostdesperate momentand are astonishedthat they were afraid for nothing.