1 - ?For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.?
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
2 - both low and high, rich and poor alike:
3 - My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 - I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 - Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me -
6 - those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
7 - No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them -
8 - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough -
9 - so that they should live on forever and not see decay.
10 - For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
11 - Their tombs will remain their houses
12 - People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.
13 - This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 - They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.
15 - But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.
16 - Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 - for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.
18 - Though while they live they count themselves blessed - and people praise you when you prosper -
19 - they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.
20 - People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.