1 ¶ Hear 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 wisdom; and the meditation of my heart intelligence.

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 declare my enigma upon the harp.

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 adversity 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 ¶ Those 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 ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement 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 of great price, and they shall never pay it)

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 sees that all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant 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 are eternal 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 will not abide forever in honour; he is like the beasts that are cut off.

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 Sheol; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed 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 ¶ Surely God will ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol when he shall take 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 in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory 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, his life shall be blessed: and men will praise thee when thou art prosperous.

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

19 H e shall enter into the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light forever.

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

20 M an that is in honour that does not understand is like the beasts that are cut off.

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