1 ¶ Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

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

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

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

My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart things of understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will declare my enigma upon the harp.

I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

5 W hy should I fear in the days of adversity when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

6 ¶ Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

7 n one of them can by any means ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him;

A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

8 ( for the redemption of their soul is of great price, and they shall never pay it)

And precious the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased -- to the age.

9 t hat he should still live for ever and not see corruption.

And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not 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 seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

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 heart: Their houses to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12 N evertheless man will not abide forever in honour; he is like the beasts that are cut off.

And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

13 T his their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

This their way folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. 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.

As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form for consumption. Sheol a dwelling for him.

15 ¶ Surely God will ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol when he shall take me. Selah.

Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.

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

Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

17 f or in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory descend after him.

For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

18 T hough while he lives, his life shall be blessed: and men will praise thee when thou art prosperous.

For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

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

It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

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

Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!