14What occurs on the earth is a mere-breath:
that – there are righteous people on whom it falls
as on the wicked,
and there are wicked on whom it falls
as on the righteous.
I said, ‘This too is mere breath’.
15So I myself praised (the idea of) rejoicing,
because there’s no good for a person under the sun
except to eat and to drink and to rejoice.
That can accompany them in their labour
for the days of their life
that God has given them under the sun.
O Lord, in whom is our hope,
remove far from us, we pray thee,
empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right with thy most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in thee we may do good;
until that day when faith and hope
shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.
Christina Rossetti (1830-94)