The days are gone When the kingdoms of earth flourished in glory; Now there are no rulers, no emperors, no givers of gold, as once there were, when wonderful things were worked among them and they lived in lordly magnificence. 85 Those powers have vanished, those pleasures are dead, the weakest survives and the world continues, kept spinning by toil. All glory is tarnished, the world's honor ages and shrinks, bent like the men who mold it. Their faces whiten as time advances, their beards wither and they mourn the memory of friends, the sons of princes, sown in the dust 90 95 The soul stripped of its flesh knows nothing of sweetness or sourness, feels no pain, bends neither its hand nor its brain. A brother opens his palms and pours down gold on his kinsman's grave, strewing his coffin with treasures intended for Heaven, but nothing golden shakes the wrath of God For a soul overflowing with sin, and nothing hidden on earth rises to Heaven. We all fear God. He turns the earth, He set it swinging firmly in space, Gave life to the world and light to the sky. 105 Death leaps at the fools who forget their God. He who lives humbly has angels from Heaven To carry him courage, strength, and belief. A man must conquer pride, not kill it, Be firm with his fellows, chaste for himself, 110 Treat all the world as the world deserves, with love or with hate, but never with harm, though an enemy seeks to scorch him in hell, or set the flames of a funeral pyre Under his lord. Fate is stronger 115 And God mightier than any man's mind. Our thoughts should turn to where our home is, Then strive for sure permission for us Consider the ways of coming there, To rise to that eternal joy, That life born in the love of God 120 And the hope of Heaven. Praise the Holy Grace of Him who honored us, Eternal, unchanging creator of earth. Amen

The days are over When the kingdoms of the world were full of glory; Now there are no kings, no emperors, no generous people, like there used to be, when amazing things happened among them and they lived in great splendor. Those powers are gone, those pleasures are dead, the weakest survive and the world keeps going, driven by hard work. All glory fades, the world's honor ages and shrinks, bent like the people who shape it. Their faces turn pale as time passes, their beards dry up and they remember their friends, the sons of princes, buried in the ground. The soul without its body knows nothing of sweetness or bitterness, feels no pain, uses neither its hands nor its mind. A brother opens his hands and places gold on his relative's grave, covering his coffin with treasures meant for Heaven, but no amount of gold can change God's anger For a soul full of sin, and nothing hidden on earth rises to Heaven. We all fear God. He moves the earth, He set it firmly in space, Gave life to the world and light to the sky. Death comes to those who forget their God. He who lives humbly has angels from Heaven To give him courage, strength, and faith. A man must control pride, not destroy it, Be strong with others, pure for himself, Treat the world as it deserves, with love or hate, but never with harm, even if an enemy tries to burn him in hell, or light a funeral fire Under his lord. Fate is stronger And God is mightier than any man's mind. Our thoughts should turn to where our true home is, Then strive to gain permission for us Consider the ways of reaching there, To rise to eternal joy, That life born in God's love And the hope of Heaven. Praise the Holy Grace of Him who honored us, Eternal, unchanging creator of earth. Amen