^{1 Ref} Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

^{2 Ref} Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

^{3 Ref} My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

^{4 Ref} I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

^{5 Ref} Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

^{6 Ref} They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

^{7 Ref} None `of them' can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him;

^{8 Ref} (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;)

^{9 Ref} That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.

^{10 Ref} For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.

^{11 Ref} Their inward thought is, `that' their houses `shall continue' for ever, `And' their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.

^{12 Ref} But man `being' in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.

^{13 Ref} This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah

^{14 Ref} They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.

^{15 Ref} But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah

^{16 Ref} Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.

^{17 Ref} For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

^{18 Ref} Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,)

^{19 Ref} He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.

^{20 Ref} Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 50 A Psalm of Asaph.