1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, |
2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together. |
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding. |
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp. |
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me? |
6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, |
7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him-- |
8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever-- |
9 That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit. |
10 For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others. |
11 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 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish. |
13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah |
14 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 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah |
16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; |
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. |
18 Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), |
19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light. |
20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish. |