1 Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2 Both low and high,

Rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,

And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;

I will disclose my 1dark saying on the harp.

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,

When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 Those who atrust in their wealth

And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor bgive to God a ransom for him—

8 For cthe redemption of their souls is costly,

And it shall cease forever—

9 That he should continue to live eternally,

And dnot 2see the Pit.

10 For he sees wise men die;

Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,

And leave their wealth to others.

11 3Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,

Their dwelling places to all generations;

They ecall their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not 4remain;

He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the way of those who are ffoolish,

And of their posterity who approve their sayings.

Selah

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;

Death shall feed on them;

gThe upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;

hAnd their beauty shall be consumed in 5the grave, far from their dwelling.

15 But God iwill redeem my soul from the power of 6the grave,

For He shall jreceive me.

Selah

16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,

When the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;

His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lives khe blesses himself

(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

They shall never see llight. 7

20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,

mIs like the beasts that perish.