1 H ear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,
Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you 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 of understanding.
My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
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 herefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side,
6 T hey that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Even 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;
None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—
8 ( For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;)
For the ransom of a life is too costly, and can never suffice—
9 T hat he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.
So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.
10 F or he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.
For 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 shall continue for ever, And their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.
Their 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 being in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.
But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 T his their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah
This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah!
14 T hey are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.
Like 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 my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah
But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah!
16 B e not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.
Be not afraid when one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;
17 F or when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
18 T hough while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,)
Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well,
19 H e shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.
He will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light.
20 M an that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish.
A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.