appear no more before thy sight
than yesterday that's past.
thou giv'st the word: thy creature, man,
is to existence brought;
again thou say'st, “ye sons of men,
return ye into nought!”
thouyest them, with all their cares,
in evesting sleep;
as with a flood thou tak'st them off
with overwhelming sweep.
they flourish like the morning flow'r,
in beauty's pride array'd;
but long ere night cut down it lies
all wither'd and decay'd.