Sirach 41:1-4

Common English Bible

41 How bitter, death,
is the thought of you
    to those who are at peace
    among their possessions,
    to those who aren’t anxiously distracted, who prosper at everything
        and still have the strength
        to enjoy good food.
² Your sentence looks good, death,
    to a person who is needy
    and lacks strength,
    who is extremely old and anxious
    about everything,
    who is not compliant
    and whose endurance has failed.
³ Don’t fear death’s judgment;
    remember those who came before you
    and those who will come after you.
⁴ This is the Lord’s judgment for all beings:
    Why should you reject
    the good pleasure of the Most High?
    Whether ten or one hundred
    or one thousand years,
    there’s no arguing about life
    in the grave.^[a]