1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world;
2 both children of mankind, and sons of men, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4 I will extend my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the depravity of my supplanters surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches:
7 None of them can at all redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him
8 (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it comes to an end forever),
9 that he might yet live forever and never see the pit.
10 For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish ones perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, and their dwelling places from generation to generation; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man, though precious, does not remain; he is like the animals that perish.
13 This way of theirs is their folly; yet those who follow delight in their sayings. Selah.
14 Like sheep they are appointed to the grave; death shall shepherd them, and the upright shall have the rule over them in the morning; their form is consumed; Sheol is their home.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the hand of Sheol; for He will carry me away. Selah.
16 Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases;
17 for when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.
18 For in his life he blessed his own soul (indeed, they praise you when you do well for yourself).
19 But he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20 A man with honor, but lacking understanding, is like the animals that perish.