1
Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2
both low and high,
rich and poor together.
3
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5
Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6
those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7
Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, 1
there is no price one can give to God for it.
8
For the ransom of life is costly,
and can never suffice,
9
that one should live on forever
and never see the grave. 2
10
When we look at the wise, they die;
fool and dolt perish together
and leave their wealth to others.
11
Their graves 3 are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they named lands their own.
12
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.
13
Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
the end of those 4 who are pleased with their lot.+pSelah
14
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend, 5
and their form shall waste away;
Sheol shall be their home. 6
15
But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.+pSelah
16
Do not be afraid when some become rich,
when the wealth of their houses increases.
17
For when they die they will carry nothing away;
their wealth will not go down after them.
18
Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
--for you are praised when you do well for yourself--
19
they 7 will go to the company of their ancestors,
who will never again see the light.
20
Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
they are like the animals that perish.