1 H ear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you 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 wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

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

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

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,

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

6 E ven of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance 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 F or the ransom of a life is too costly, and can never suffice—

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

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

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

10 F or he sees that even wise men die; the fool and the stupid alike 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 will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own and 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 B ut man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; 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 is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men 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 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.

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 me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will 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 afraid when one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;

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

17 F or when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will 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 lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well,

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

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

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

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

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