1. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye 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 intelligence.
4. I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will declare my enigma upon the harp.
5. Why should I fear in the days of adversity when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6. Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7. none of them can by any means ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him;
8. (for the redemption of their soul is of great price, and they shall never pay it)
9. that he should still live for ever and not see corruption.
10. For he sees that all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant perish and leave their wealth to others.
11. Their inward thought is that their houses are eternal and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12. Nevertheless man will not abide forever in honour; he is like the beasts that are cut off.
13. This their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14. Like sheep they are laid in Sheol; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave from their dwelling.
15. Surely God will ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol when he shall take me. Selah.
16. Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17. for in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory descend after him.
18. Though while he lives, his life shall be blessed: and men will praise thee when thou art prosperous.
19. He shall enter into the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light forever.
20. Man that is in honour that does not understand is like the beasts that are cut off.