[1] Listen to this, all you nations. Listen, all you who live on earth. [2] Listen, both great and small, rich and poor together. [3] What I say is wise. My heart speaks with understanding. [4] I will pay attention to a wise saying. I will explain my riddle on the harp. [5] Why should I be afraid of bad days? Why should I fear when evil men surround me? [6] They trust in their money. They brag about their riches. [7] No one can buy back the life of another person. No one can pay God for his own life. [8] The price of a life is high. No payment is ever enough. [9] Do people live forever? Don't they all face death? [10] See, even wise men die. Fools and stupid people also die. They leave their wealth to others. [11] Their graves will always be their homes. They will live there from now on, even though they named places after themselves. [12] Even rich people do not live forever. Like the animals, people die. [13] This is what will happen to people who trust in themselves. And this will happen to their followers who believe them. Selah [14] Like sheep, they must die. And death will be their shepherd. Honest people will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will rot in a grave far from home. [15] But God will save my life. He will take me from the grave. Selah [16] Don't be afraid of a rich man because his house is more beautiful. [17] He won't take anything to the grave. His wealth won't die with him. [18] He was praised when he was alive. (And people may praise you when you succeed.) [19] But he will go to where his ancestors are. He will never see light again. [20] Rich people with no understanding are just like animals that die.
