1 H ear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 B oth low and high, rich and poor together:

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

4 I will submit and consent to a parable or proverb; to the music of a lyre I will unfold my riddle (my problem).

5 W hy should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side,

6 E ven of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

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

8 F or the ransom of a life is too costly, and can never suffice—

9 S o that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.

10 F or he sees that even wise men die; the fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.

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

12 B ut man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

13 T his is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah!

14 L ike sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the place of the dead); death shall be their shepherd. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form and beauty shall be consumed, for Sheol shall be their dwelling.

15 B ut God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah!

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

17 F or when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

18 T hough while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well,

19 H e will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light.

20 A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.