giankuh yehv hahroustoutiounuh ahntzoghahgan yehn, meeaihyn eemahsdoutiounuh muhnaihoun eh

Time, the reaper, moves unrelentingly in stealth
Robs each man slowly of his hard-earned wealth
Ravages the body, ruins his health
Leaves him forlorn, feeling sorry for himself

Man like a puppet is forced to act
To eat, to sleep, have sex, fight back
Thinking falsely he is in control
But lives in fear like a lowly mole

Happiness appears, gives us hope and cheers
We yearn for more, yet it disappears
Memories we hold of bygone years
That give some solace and sad tears

We live in an illusory kingdom
Chasing madly happiness and freedom
Why persist after a hopeless phantom
True value is acquiring wisdom

Wisdom sees the past and reads the future
Without such vision we are doomed to failure
Everyone is born and destined to die
This is a truth no sane person can deny

We seek happiness in the wrong place
Sex, drugs, gambling are a disgrace
Beneath the dignity of the human race
That arouse man’s passions the most base

There is a higher pleasure, a higher fate
A peaceful, uplifting mental state
It begins when we see the body and soul
And use everything for the spiritual goal

Understand we are not the controller, nor enjoyer
We are subordinate to God, our employer
Material things belong to God who sets aside our share
Accept the minimum, use the rest to spread His grace and care

Life dedicated to God’s service is mankind’s best hope

We will be known not for what we saved but what we gave

If we are blessed with assets use them in God’s service

By such unselfish service we are freed of lust, anger and greed