[1] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, [2] both low and high, rich and poor together. [3] My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter understanding. [4] I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will solve my riddle on the harp. [5] Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? [6] Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches— [7] none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. [8] For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, [9] that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. [10] For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. [11] Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. [12] But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish. [13] This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah. [14] They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. [15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah. [16] Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; [17] for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him. [18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself— [19] he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light. [20] A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
