Sol 5.6

  1. O Lord, do not let anyone harmed because of me

    meet You bearing the hateful sin of my doing.

  2. And make my journey to meet You, on the day You behold

    all humankind assembled, follow a path among the ways—

  3. a clear, level road where my foot refuses to stumble,

    with neither misstep nor straying there.

  4. And grant me safety on a day when

    the hearts of Your creatures are cast into dread.

  5. How long shall I hope for pardon I do not earn?

    Woe to my hide on the Day of Fire, for this hope of mine!

  6. And I seek Your forgiveness for what I hoped; I am deceived

    by fortune’s turns whenever I let the tether run long.

  7. As though I—while fear’s fire-steels scorch me—

    were unchanged by all that I fear and hope for.

  8. My words are fair, but my deeds are vile;

    how far, in this world, are such words from action!

  9. Alas for Time! By it the learned were deceived,

    and all the ignorant too, in ages past.

  10. They all passed away: not one is seen, not a trace remains.

    Their hour came and they passed away; Time itself has not passed.

  11. As though, once they had mounted their funeral biers,

    they had never mounted the backs of horses and camels.

  12. They said, “You are free of all concerns.” I said to them,

    “If only I were not engrossed in waiting for death!”

  13. Indeed, I know with knowledge into which there enters

    no doubt—yet I desire the world, and it desires me—

  14. that there is no escape from my journey’s destination,

    and no cure for the ailments of which I complain.

Sol 5.6