^{1 Ref} <Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.

^{2 Ref} High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.

^{3 Ref} From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.

^{4 Ref} I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.

^{5 Ref} What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

^{6 Ref} Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.

^{7 Ref} Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;

^{8 Ref} (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

^{9 Ref} So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

^{10 Ref} For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

^{11 Ref} The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

^{12 Ref} But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

^{13 Ref} This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)

^{14 Ref} Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.

^{15 Ref} But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)

^{16 Ref} Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

^{17 Ref} For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

^{18 Ref} Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

^{19 Ref} He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

^{20 Ref} Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

^{1 Ref} To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

^{2 Ref} Both low and high, together rich and needy.

^{3 Ref} My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart `are' things of understanding.

^{4 Ref} I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

^{5 Ref} Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

^{6 Ref} Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

^{7 Ref} A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

^{8 Ref} And precious `is' the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased -- to the age.

^{9 Ref} And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

^{10 Ref} For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

^{11 Ref} Their heart `is': Their houses `are' to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

^{12 Ref} And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

^{13 Ref} This their way `is' folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.

^{14 Ref} As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form `is' for consumption. Sheol `is' a dwelling for him.

^{15 Ref} Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.

^{16 Ref} Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

^{17 Ref} For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

^{18 Ref} For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

^{19 Ref} It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

^{20 Ref} Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!

^{1 Ref} > Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

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

^{3 Ref} My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.

^{4 Ref} I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.

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

^{6 Ref} Those who trust in their wealth, And boast in the multitude of their riches--

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

^{8 Ref} For the redemption of their life is costly, No payment is ever enough,

^{9 Ref} That he should live on forever, That he should not see corruption.

^{10 Ref} For he sees that wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless perish, And leave their wealth to others.

^{11 Ref} Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, And their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

^{12 Ref} But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.

^{13 Ref} This is the destiny of those who are foolish, And of those who approve their sayings. Selah.

^{14 Ref} They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, Far from their mansion.

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

^{16 Ref} Don't be afraid when a man is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.

^{17 Ref} For when he dies 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 you when you do well for yourself--

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

^{20 Ref} A man who has riches without understanding, Is like the animals that perish.