[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, and 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 people surround me? [6] They trust in their money and brag about their riches. [7] No one can buy back the life of another. No one can pay God for his own life, [8] because 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 people die. Fools and stupid people also die and 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 those who trust in themselves and 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, and their bodies will rot in a grave far from home. [15] But God will save my life and will take me from the grave. Selah [16] Don't be afraid of rich people because their houses are more beautiful. [17] They don't take anything to the grave; their wealth won't go down with them. [18] Even though they were praised when they were alive- and people may praise you when you succeed- [19] they will go to where their ancestors are. They will never see light again. [20] Rich people with no understanding are just like animals that die.
