1
For the ungodly said, reasoning with themselves, but not aright: "Our life is short and tedious, and in the death of a man there is no remedy; neither was there any man known to have returned from the grave.
2
For we are born at random, and we shall be hereafter as though we had never been. For the breath in our nostrils is as smoke, and a little spark in the moving of our heart,
3
which, being extinguished, our body shall be turned into ashes, and our spirit shall vanish as the soft air.
4
And our name shall be forgotten in time, and no man shall have our works in remembrance; and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist that is driven away with the beams of the sun, and overcome with the heat thereof.
5
For our time is a very shadow that passeth away, and after our end there is no returning; for it is sealed fast, so that no man cometh again.
6
"Come on, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present; and let us speedily use the creation as in youth.
7
Let us fill ourselves with costly wine and ointments; and let no flower of the spring pass by us.
8
Let us crown ourselves with rosebuds before they be withered.
9
Let none of us go without his part of our voluptuousness; let us leave tokens of our joyfulness in every place; for this is our portion, and our lot is this.
10
Let us oppress the poor righteous man; let us not spare the widow, nor reverence the ancient gray hairs of the aged.
11
Let our strength be the law of justice; for that which is feeble is found to be worth nothing.