The eye that now sees me shall no more behold me; when your eye is on me, I shall be gone.
But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
You put my feet in the stocks; you watch all my paths and trace out all my footsteps,
But when a man dies, all vigor leaves him; when a mortal expires, where then is he?
Upon such a one will you set your eyes, bringing me into judgment before you?
Like a dream he takes flight and cannot be found; he fades away like a vision of the night.
The eye which saw him does so no more; nor shall his dwelling again behold him.
He lies down a rich man, one last time; he opens his eyes—nothing is there.
For then I should have lain down and been tranquil; had I slept, I should then have been at rest
Why do you not pardon my offense, or take away my guilt? For soon I shall lie down in the dust; and should you seek me I shall be gone.
Yet if one tears him from his place, it will disown him: “I have never seen you!”
A wind sweeps over it and it is gone; its place knows it no more.
When I passed by again, he was gone; though I searched, he could not be found.
Take your plague away from me; I am ravaged by the touch of your hand.