birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time, when it shall come suddenly upon them.[1]
But thou, my son, remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, knowing that it is good for a man when he has borne the yoke from his youth;[2] for with him that fears the Lord it shall go well in the latter end, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.[3]
See, therefore, how thou walk circumspectly, not as unwise, but as wise.[4] For what folly can be greater than, when the whole of eternity hangs on the brief moment of this life, and when sentence for all eternity is to be passed at the hour of death, which will adjudge thee to punishment or to glory for ever, yet to make so little provision for that risk, but to be anxiously and industriously careful about everything else, and neglect the one thing which alone, and before all others, should be every one’s care?
What needs a man to seek the things that are above him, whereas he knows not what is profitable for him in his life, in all the days of his pilgrimage, and in his time that passes like a shadow? [5]
O ye sons of men! how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying? Surely man asses as an image; yea, and he is disquieted in vain.[6] His years shall be considered as a spider. For as with much labour it weaves its web, but in doing so spends its vitals, yet catches nothing but wretched flies, so do men waste the years of their life, but with what profit to themselves at last?
Man. Behold, thou hast made my days measurable, and my substanca is as nothing before thee. For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday which is passed. Spare me, O Lord, for my days are nothing. Remember that I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.[7]
Christ. Wherefore, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires and cares of this world, which war against the soul.[8] Behold, a pilgrim does not loiter on the way; he does not turn aside from the path to pluck flowers and seek for pleasures, and so trifle away his time; but rather, from desire of home and friends, he pursues and hastens continually on the
