[1] Hear this, all 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 lyre.
[5] Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
[6] those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
[7] Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life,
[8] for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice,
[9] that he should live on forever and never see the pit.
[10] For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.
[11] Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names.
[12] Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
[13] This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
[14] Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
[15] But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah
[16] Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases.
[17] For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
[18] For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
[19] his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light.
[20] Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.