2Hear this, all you peoples!

Give ear, all who inhabit the world,

3You of lowly birth or high estate,

rich and poor together.

4My mouth shall speak words of wisdom,

my heart shall offer insights.a

5I will turn my ear to a riddle,*

expound my question on a lyre.

6Why should I fear in evil days,

with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me,

7Of those who trust in their wealth

and boast of their abundant riches?b

8*No man can ransom even a brother,

or pay to God his own ransom.c

9The redemption of his soul is costly;

and he will pass away forever.

10Will he live on forever, then,

and never see the Pit of Corruption?

11Indeed, he will see that the wise die,

and the fool will perish together with the senseless,d

and they leave their wealth to others.e

12Their tombs are their homes forever,

their dwellings through all generations,

“They named countries after themselves”

13—but man does not abide in splendor.

He is like the beasts—they perish.f

14This is the way of those who trust in themselves,

and the end of those who take pleasure in their own mouth.

Selah

15Like a herd of sheep they will be put into Sheol,

and Death will shepherd them.

Straight to the grave they descend,

where their form will waste away,

Sheol will be their palace.

16But God will redeem my life,

will take me* from the hand of Sheol.g

Selah

17Do not fear when a man becomes rich,

when the wealth of his house grows great.

18At his death he will not take along anything,

his glory will not go down after him.h

19During his life his soul uttered blessings;

“They will praise you, for you do well for yourself.”

20But he will join the company of his fathers,

never again to see the light.i

21In his prime, man does not understand.

He is like the beasts—they perish.