The Evanescence of Wealth
(Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ׀ (For the one directing). לִבְנֵי־ (Of the sons) קֹ֬רַח (of Korah) מִזְמֽוֹר׃ (a Psalm).

1שִׁמְעוּ־ (Hear) זֹ֭את (this), כָּל־ (all) הָֽעַמִּ֑ים (you peoples);

הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ (give ear) כָּל־ (all) יֹ֥שְׁבֵי (you dwellers) חָֽלֶד׃ (of the world),

2  גַּם־ (both) בְּנֵ֣י (sons) אָ֭דָם (of a man) גַּם־ (and) בְּנֵי־ (sons) אִ֑ישׁ (of a great man),

יַ֝֗חַד (together) עָשִׁ֥יר (the rich) וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃ (and the poor),

3  פִּ֭י (My mouth) יְדַבֵּ֣ר (will speak) חָכְמ֑וֹת (wisdom),

וְהָג֖וּת (and the musing) לִבִּ֣י (of my heart) תְבוּנֽוֹת׃ (understanding).

4  אַטֶּ֣ה (I will incline) לְמָשָׁ֣ל (to a proverb) אָזְנִ֑י (my ear);

אֶפְתַּ֥ח (I will open up) בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר (with the harp) חִידָתִֽי׃ (my riddle).

5  לָ֣מָּה (Why) אִ֭ירָא (should I fear) בִּ֣ימֵי (in the days) רָ֑ע (of evil)?

עֲוֺ֖ן (The perversion) עֲקֵבַ֣י (at my heels) יְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃ (that surrounds me).

6  הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים (Those trusting) עַל־ (in) חֵילָ֑ם (their wealth),

וּבְרֹ֥ב (and who in the abundance) עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם (of their riches) יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃ (do boast).

7  אָ֗ח (A brother) לֹא־ (not) פָדֹ֣ה (ransoming) יִפְדֶּ֣ה (can he ransom) אִ֑ישׁ (a man),

לֹא־ (and not) יִתֵּ֖ן (can he give) לֵאלֹהִ֣ים (to God) כָּפְרֽוֹ׃ (his redemption price).

8  וְ֭יֵקַר (And for costly is) פִּדְי֥וֹן (the ransom) נַפְשָׁ֗ם (of their soul),

וְחָדַ֥ל (and it shall cease) לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (forever),

9  וִֽיחִי־ (that he might live) ע֥וֹד (on) לָנֶ֑צַח (forever)

לֹ֖א (and not) יִרְאֶ֣ה (see) הַשָּֽׁחַת׃ (the Pit).

10  כִּ֤י (For) יִרְאֶ֨ה׀ (he sees) חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים (wise men) יָמ֗וּתוּ (die);

יַ֤חַד (together) כְּסִ֣יל (the fool) וָבַ֣עַר (and the senseless one) יֹאבֵ֑דוּ (perish)

וְעָזְב֖וּ (and they leave) לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים (for others) חֵילָֽם׃ (their wealth).

11  קִרְבָּ֤ם (Their inward thoughts) בָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ׀ (are their homes) לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם (forever),

מִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָם (their dwelling places) לְדֹ֣ר (from generation) וָדֹ֑ר (and to generation);

קָֽרְא֥וּ (they proclaimed) בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם (their own names) עֲלֵ֣י (over) אֲדָמֽוֹת׃ (the lands).

12  וְאָדָ֣ם (And man) בִּ֭יקָר (in his wealth) בַּל־ (not) יָלִ֑ין (does remain);

נִמְשַׁ֖ל (he becomes like) כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת (the beasts) נִדְמֽוּ׃ (that perish).

13  זֶ֣ה (This is) דַ֭רְכָּם (their path), כֵּ֣סֶל (of folly) לָ֑מוֹ (for them),

וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֓ם׀ (and after them) בְּפִיהֶ֖ם (in their sayings) יִרְצ֣וּ (they took delight).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

14  כַּצֹּ֤אן׀ (like sheep) לִֽשְׁא֣וֹל (for Sheol) שַׁתּוּ֮ (they are appointed);

מָ֤וֶת (death) יִ֫רְעֵ֥ם (will be their shepherd),

וַיִּרְדּ֘וּ (will rule) בָ֤ם (over them) יְשָׁרִ֨ים׀ (the upright) לַבֹּ֗קֶר (in the morning);

וְצִירָם (and their form) לְבַלּ֥וֹת (shall be consumed); שְׁא֗וֹל (in Sheol) מִזְּבֻ֥ל (the habitation) לֽוֹ׃ (for him).

15  אַךְ־ (Surely) אֱלֹהִ֗ים (God) יִפְדֶּ֣ה (will redeem) נַ֭פְשִׁי (my soul) מִֽיַּד־ (from the hand) שְׁא֑וֹל (of Sheol),

כִּ֖י (for) יִקָּחֵ֣נִי (He shall take me).

סֶֽלָה׃ (Selah)

16  אַל־ (not) תִּ֭ירָא (be afraid) כִּֽי־ (when) יַעֲשִׁ֣ר (becomes rich) אִ֑ישׁ (a man),

כִּֽי־ (when) יִ֝רְבֶּה (increases) כְּב֣וֹד (the glory) בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (of his house).

17  כִּ֤י (For) לֹ֣א (nothing) בְ֭מוֹתוֹ (in his death) יִקַּ֣ח (he will take) הַכֹּ֑ל (of all);

לֹא־ (will not) יֵרֵ֖ד (shall go down) אַחֲרָ֣יו (after him) כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃ (his glory).

18  כִּֽי־ (Though) נַ֭פְשׁוֹ (his soul) בְּחַיָּ֣יו (in his living) יְבָרֵ֑ךְ (he blesses),

וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ (and they praise you) כִּי־ (when) תֵיטִ֥יב (you do well) לָֽךְ׃ (for yourself).

19  תָּ֭בוֹא (He will come) עַד־ (to) דּ֣וֹר (the generation) אֲבוֹתָ֑יו (of his fathers);

עַד־ (even to) נֵ֝֗צַח (forever) לֹ֣א (not) יִרְאוּ־ (shall they see) אֽוֹר׃ (light).

20  אָדָ֣ם (A man) בִּ֭יקָר (in his splendor) וְלֹ֣א (not) יָבִ֑ין (does understand);

נִמְשַׁ֖ל (he is like) כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת (the beasts) נִדְמֽוּ׃ (that perish).