Budge_Ethiopic_Alexander

514 THE HISTORY OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT.
"[p. 320] The governor who loveth idle stories, and
Advice to "jesting, and vain talk, and is a thief and a de-
goverMrs" "stroycr of innocent blood in vain is hateful unto
"God. The governor who feareth not God Al-
"mighty and who remembereth not the day of his
"death, and who hearkeneth not to the voice of
"the teachers and of the Scriptures, and who maketh
"laughter and idle jests before Him is hateful unto
"God. The governor who watcheth not, and who
"crieth not out in prayer in the house of God Al-
"mighty, and who repenteth not, and fasteth not,
"and prayeth not, but leadeth a life of enjoyment
"with every kind of pleasure, and filleth his house
"[with people], is abominated by God. Dost thou
"not know, O governor, that although thou art a
"man to-day, to-morrow thou wilt be dust? and
"that although to-day [thou art held] in honour,
"to-morrow thou wilt be a thine of no account?
"To-day thou risest up from this place and put-
"test thyself in another, but the time cometh when
"thy hands and thy feet shall be bound so that
"thou wilt be unable to move, or to rise up, or
"to walk about. Know, then, that nothing which
"remaineth in the world shall belong- unto thee in
"the day of thy death, for thy heirs shall divide
"it amongst themselves, and nothing whatsoever of
"the glory of thy house shall go down with thee
"[into the grave]. If thou wilt hearken unto me
"send on before thee some of thy riches that they
"may be provisions for thy way, and give them
"to the poor and to the stranger without usury.