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

¶ Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye 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 of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart intelligence.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

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

5 W herefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

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

6 T hey that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

¶ Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves 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 ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him;

8 ( For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

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

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

that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.

10 F or he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

For he sees that all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant 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 are eternal and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

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

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

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

This their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14 L ike sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Like 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.

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

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

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

Be not thou afraid when one is made 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 in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory descend after him.

18 T hough while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

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

19 H e shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

He shall enter into the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light forever.

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

Man that is in honour that does not understand is like the beasts that are cut off.