1Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2both low and high, rich and poor together.Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
10For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.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.
12But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14They 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.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.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.