[1] Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, [2] Both low and high, Rich and poor together. [3] My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be discernment. [4] I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp. [5] Why should I fear in days of evil, When the iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me, [6] Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? [7] Truly, no man can redeem his brother; He cannot give to God a ransom for him— [8] For the redemption price for their soul is costly, And it ceases forever— [9] That he should live on eternally, That he should not see corruption. [10] For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others. [11] Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places from generation to generation; They have called their lands after their own names. [12] But man in his honor will not endure; He is like the animals that perish. [13] This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who are pleased with their words. Selah. [14] As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume, Far away from his habitation. [15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah. [16] Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house increases; [17] For when he dies he will not take any of it; His glory will not descend after him. [18] For while he lives he blesses his soul—And men will praise you when you do well for yourself— [19] But his soul shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will eternally not see light. [20] Man in his honor, but who does not understand, Is like the animals that perish.
