¹ Hear this, all you people; listen, all you inhabitants of the world ² Both low and high , rich and poor, together. ³ My mouth will speak of wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding. ⁴ I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying on the harp. ⁵ Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels will surround me about? ⁶ Those trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; ⁷ None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him ⁸ (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases forever :) ⁹ That he should still live forever, and not see corruption. ¹⁰ For he sees that wise men die, likewise the fool and the stupid person perish, and leave their wealth to others. ¹¹ Their inward thought is, that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. ¹² Nevertheless man being in honour abides not: he is like the beasts that perish. ¹³ This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. ¹⁴ Like sheep they are laid in the grave death will feed on them and the upright will have dominion over them in the morning and their beauty will consume in the grave from their dwelling. ¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he will receive me. Selah. ¹⁶ Be not you afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; ¹⁷ For when he dies he will carry nothing away: his glory will not descend after him. ¹⁸ though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise you, when you does well to yourself. ¹⁹ He will go to the generation of his fathers they will never see light. ²⁰ Man that is in honour, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.