QOHELET
Probably published about 250
A .D. – Verses on terza rima
I fake of being the very wise King
whence to show you the deceptions of the world
What appears to be true
seems often someone squaring the circle:
I’m not pessimistic but just a
real man!
What is worth to be joyous or sad?
Everything is vanity of vanities!
Vain it is the pleasure that oozes from love,
Vain is wisdom, and vain is humbleness!
Vain is who lives and vain is who dies;
vain is stupidity that pushes them
low,
vain is the glory that induces the
honor!
Vain the accusation which offends by the stones,
vain the defense that indulges the punishments!
Vain it is to eat either soberly or crassly,
vain the fast which dries up the veins;
vain is the sunset and vain is the
dawn!
Vain is also the river which goes by and by!
Vain every puff of wind and of bora,
vain is any event under the sun;
vain are the current and vain are
the early days
vain every hate and evil which aches;
vain is each effort or mental contest;
vain is to work at the mortar and grindstones;
vain to choose what is worth or not worth for!
Vain to be stoned from the must,
vain is also each manual effort;
Vain is want to be vain at any rate,
vain is the forgery and vain is the truth
for people who are bound to an identical
fate!
Vainly I look for You through
thousands of paths,
Please don’t be vain and treat me sweetly
My unique Lord!
