1. Lo! the Evil One reproached Death, and was in turn reproached: from each and to each and against each, were their taunts. -- 2. R., To Thee be glory, Son of the Lord of All, Who diedst for all: for He was raised to give life to all, in the day of His Coming! -- 3. S., Jonah who conquered thee, and returned back from Sheol, became my advocate in asking, why sinners were spared? -- 4. D., Slander not, O Evil One, the son of Amittai: he showed a face of anger, that they might praise thee more. -- 5. S., Quite powerless is all thy persuasion, O tyrant Death: for there pleases me nothing, of all thou hast said. -- 6. D., For when was the word of truth pleasing to thee? A gulf is between thee and truthfulness, O lying one. -- 7. I am righteous all my days, with nought to repent: I am he that rescues from thee the sons of men. -- 8. S., Proclaim thy repentance, Death, thou art well come: lo! Saul also among the prophets, great cause of scorn. -- 9. If thou, Death, be justified, then for myself: I cut not off hope, likewise, of repentance. -- 10. D., No idol with my Lord have I made, O hater of thy Lord! lo! thou by dead idols, slayest the living. -- 11. S., That thou, Death, art half of me, I know, and I half of thee: if half of me repents, it repents, but I marvel. -- 12. D., Thy partner am I in share, but not in sin: mine are the slain and thine the slayers, whom thou madest sin. -- 13. S., My craftiness weeps for itself, when I dispute with thee: my wiles mourn over me, when I meet thee. -- 14. D., Workers of witchcraft and soothsayers, with all their offences: the fire that thou kindledst in the world, in Sheol I have quenched. -- 15. S., Thou penitent who strainest out gnats, and swallowest the just: the chaste shall rend thee, who cry, from within thy belly. -- 16. D., It is the treasure-house where I keep all the righteous: their resurrection threatens ill to thee, who didst persecute them. -- 17. S., The greedy one who carries all creatures, in his bowels: lo! he casts up to me that I am robbed, of my possessions. -- 18. D., Before the stroke lament not, for it has not yet reached thee: the day will come when thou shalt cry out, and I shall hear and rejoice. -- 19. The fire will come that shall strip off thee thy very skin: as by the potsherd thou didst strip the skin of Job. -- 20. D., The savour of sloth begins, as if to hover on me; it is then a dream that I ceased, for a short space. -- 21. It was not that words failed me, and therefore I was silent: it is for the time I grieve, that has passed idly. -- 22. The hurt done by thy speech is very great: would I had not heard it! For my whole mind is intent upon my work. -- 23. This humankind that is lost, was undone by wandering thought: slothfulness, with negligence, brought it under yoke. -- 24. The madness of desire bid for wealth, and bought it: contention with boastfulness, were the sureties. -- 25. With persistence for strength, I wage my war: and if I neglect but a little, my sway is naught. -- 26. By continual dropping, I clean the rocks: for continual dropping can dissolve even a mountain. -- 27. Habit even over nature, becomes master: it trains and leads even lions, as beasts of burden. -- 28. Habit, repose, and increase, with persistence; by these is freedom conquered, though stubborn above all. -- 29. If its will be firmly set, it breaks the fetters; but if lax, a fragile net, can capture it. -- 30. If so be that Freedom shouts, we are scattered: but if she be silent we gather together, to mock at her. -- 31. Let us cease from much speaking, lest it lead to much sloth: with one mind let us assail the wall, and lo! it is broken down. -- 32. S., Go thou and see to diseases, and I to snares: for to me sins and to thee pestilences, are great solace. -- 33. And even though I have paused, I have not paused from my cares: for my will at no time rests, but is ready.