1 T o the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear 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, together rich and needy.

Both low and high, rich and poor together:

3 M y mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart things of understanding.

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

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

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

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

Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

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

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—

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

For the ransom of a life is too costly, and can never suffice—

9 A nd still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.

10 F or he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

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

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

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

But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

13 T his their way folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.

This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah!

14 A s 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.

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 O nly, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth 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 F ear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

Be not afraid when one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;

17 F or at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

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

Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well,

19 I t cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

He will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light.

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

A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.