2. Hear this, all you peoples. Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
3. both low and high, rich and poor together.
4. My mouth speaks wisdom, My heart’s meditation is understanding.
5. I will turn my ear to a proverb. I will utter my riddle on the harp:
6. Why should I fear in evil days? when the iniquity of my deceivers surrounds me?
7. Or those trusting in their wealth, boasting about their great riches?
8. No man can redeem his brother, or give to God a ransom for him.
9. For the redemption of a soul is costly— so, one should stop trying forever.
10. Will he live forever— and never see the Pit?
11. Surely he must see, even wise men die. The fool and the brutish will alike perish, leaving their wealth to others.
12. Their inward thought is: Their houses are eternal, their dwellings for generation after generation. They name their lands after themselves.