^{1 Ref} Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

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

^{3 Ref} My mouth shall speak of 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 the iniquity of my heels shall compass 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 soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

^{9 Ref} That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

^{10 Ref} For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person 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} Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

^{13 Ref} This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

^{14 Ref} Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

^{15 Ref} But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall 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 will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

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

^{20 Ref} Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

^{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.

^{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.