This Too Shall Pass

"이것 또한 곧 지나가리라 "(Soon it shall also come to pass) - This too shall pass :  (Hebrew: גם זה יעבור‎‎, gam zeh yaavor) is a phrase occurring in a Jewish wisdom folktale involving King Solomon

어느날 다윗왕이 궁중의 세공인에게 명령했다. 

"나를 위한 아름다운 반지를 하나 만들라.  반지에는 내가 큰 승리를 거둬, 기쁨을 억제치 못할 때, 그것을 조절할 수 있는 글귀를 새기도록 해라. 또한 그 글귀는 내가 큰 절망에 빠졌을 때 용기를 함께 줄 수 있는 글귀여야 하느리라." 

세공인은 명령대로 아름다운 반지를 만들었지만, 고민에 빠지고 말았다.  고민하던 그는 지혜롭다던 솔로몬 왕자에게 찾아가서 도움을 청하였다. 

"왕자님, 왕의 큰 기쁨을 절제케 하는 동시에 크게 절망했을 때 용기를 줄 수 있는 글귀라면 
어떤 것이 있을까요?"  

솔로몬 왕자가 말했다. 
"이 글귀를 넣으세요." 

"이것 또한 곧 지나가리라 "(Soon it shall also come to pass)

"승리에 도취한 순간에 왕이 그 글을 보면 자만심은 곧 가라앉을 것이고, 동시에 왕이 절망 중에 그 글을 보게 되면 이내 큰 용기를 얻을 것이오." 

"이것 또한 지나가리라...곧 지나가리라..." 

One day, King David commanded to his royal craftsman "make a most beautiful ring for me and engrave a phrase that would calm my joy when I am victorious and encourage me when I am in despair"

The craftsmen made a most beautiful ring as they had been commanded but they were deeply worried. So they went to the wise prince Solomon for a word of advice.

"your highness, what would be the phrase that calms King's joy when he is victorious and encourages him when in despair ?"

"Soon it shall also come to pass, Soon it shall come to pass. The King would calm his joy when he is victorious and encourage himself when in despair."

"Soon it shall also come to pass, Soon it shall come to pass."

This Too Shall Pass

When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,
Flows through your life with peace-destroying power
And dearest things are swept from sight forever,
Say to your heart each trying hour:
"This, Too, shall pass away."

When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness,
And you have grown almost too tired to pray,
Let this truth banish from your heart its sadness,
And ease the burdens of each day:
"This, Too, shall pass away."

When fortune smiles, and, full of mirth and pleasure,
The days are flitting by without a care,
Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure,
Let these few words their fullest import bear:
"This, Too, shall pass away."

When earnest labor brings you fame and glory,
And all earth's noblest ones upon you smile,
Remember that life's longest, grandest story
Fills but a moment in earth's little while:
"This, Too, shall pass away."

- Lanta Wilson Smith