What the Tzaddik gains by wisdom

sinner tries to take with force
all eventually passes to the righteous
if we just stay the course

Will result in stern justice tomorrow
unlawful gains that you get today
must wait for the right time
and with evil do not play

 

There are twenty eight different times

the same number of Hebrew verse

spanning everything from birth to death

and from blessings to fatal curse

 

Time for one to be born

and later a time to die

a time for the spring planting

time for uprooting and to sigh

 

Time for one to be killed

and to heal the broken bones
a time for one to weep

time to laugh in your home

 

Time to lament for the dead

when no light penetrates the room

a time for one to dance

time to celebrate bride and groom

 

Time for one to throw rocks

cast out from Temple and alone

a time to gather exiled souls

time to lift yourself and atone

 

Time to embrace like a belt

and to banish from your sight

a time to seek the lost

time lose others in the night

 

Time to bless and to keep

and time cast far from land

a time to tear all apart

time to mend with your hand

 

Time to say nothing, gain reward

time to speak like Moses sang

a time for one to love

time for hated to be hanged

 

So what profit from our toil

when soon everything will be lost

must use things at appointed time

or force matters, increase the cost

 

G-d put wisdom in our hearts

each one only gets small part

since time of judgement is unknown

   you must repent, begin new start

 

Nothing better than eat and drink

and rejoice always in our share

is the way to bring full gain

for G-d to show he cares

 

But what of the great paradox

how the wicked seem to thrive

while the good have to suffer

justice and equity does not survive

 

But I say deep in heart

appearance cannot break my will

G-d shall try righteous and wicked

even after death His judgement still

 

They are lords of absolutely nothing

while they subjugate the weak

G-d will eventually bring them low

like the animals that hunters seek

 

The difference between beast and man

   those wise will understand and know

and who must give accounting

which soul goes high or low

 

Now every man must be strong

should rejoice in all labors grand

and then eat Torah and mitzvos

no ill-gotten gains from the land

 

For all tears of the oppressed

are those of wicked in hell

the evil inclination tricks us all

never born might suit us well

 

But we must not lose faith

better to join with a friend

a poor wise child will lead

with foolish kings lost in end

 

Must be quick and always eager

follow the righteous on Torah path

guard our legs as we walk

turn from sadness and always laugh

_________________________________

(Inspired by and dedicated to Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum)

 

"May all your lives be blessed and sweet for the New Year"