1. Listen to this, all you nations.Listen, all you who live on earth.
2. Listen, both great and small,rich and poor together.
3. What I say is wise.My heart speaks with understanding.
4. I will pay attention to a wise saying.I will explain my riddle on the harp.
5. Why should I be afraid of bad days?Why should I fear when evil men surround me?
6. They trust in their money.They brag about their riches.
7. No one can buy back the life of another person.No one can pay God for his own life.
8. The price of a life is high.No payment is ever enough.
9. Do people live forever?Don’t they all face death?
10. See, even wise men die.Fools and stupid people also die.They leave their wealth to others.
11. Their graves will always be their homes.They will live there from now on,even though they named places after themselves.
12. Even rich people do not live forever.Like the animals, people die.
13. This is what will happen to people who trust in themselves.And this will happen to their followers who believe them. Selah
14. Like sheep, they must die.And death will be their shepherd.Honest people will rule over them in the morning.Their bodies will rot in a grave far from home.
15. But God will save my life.He will take me from the grave. Selah
16. Don’t be afraid of a rich manbecause his house is more beautiful.
17. He won’t take anything to the grave.His wealth won’t die with him.
18. He was praised when he was alive.(And people may praise you when you succeed.)
19. But he will go to where his ancestors are.He will never see light again.
20. Rich people with no understandingare just like animals that die.