1“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.
11They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. Pause.
14Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place.
15But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. Pause.
16Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!
17For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18Though in his life he thought himself happy,—Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity,—
19Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
