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.