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

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

2 B oth men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

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 will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle on the harp.

5 W herefore should I fear in the days of adversity, the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me?—

Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,

6 T hey depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. …

Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?

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

No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—

8 ( For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)

For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever—

9 T hat he should still live perpetually, not see corruption.

That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.

10 F or he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others.

11 T heir inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.

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

But man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.

13 T his their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah.

This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.

14 L ike sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.

As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation.

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

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

16 B e not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

Do not be afraid when a man 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 will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.

18 T hough he blessed his soul in his lifetime,—and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself,—

Though while he lives he congratulates himself— And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—

19 I t shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

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

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

Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.