1 H ear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2 b oth low and high, rich and poor, together.

Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

3 M y mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

5 W herefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6 T hey that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,

7 n one of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him—

8 ( for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever—

9 t hat he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.

10 F or he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.

11 T heir inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.

12 N evertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.

13 T his their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah

14 L ike sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

15 B ut God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah

16 B e not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;

17 f or when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

18 T hough while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),

19 H e shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.

20 M an that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.