To the Chief Musician. A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1Hear this, all you people; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

2Both low and high, rich and poor together.

3My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and the thoughts of my heart shall be of understanding.

4I will incline my ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the lyre.

5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters surrounds me?

6Those who trust in their wealth and in their many riches boast themselves.

7No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him--

8For the redemption of their soul is costly, and no payment is ever enough.

9That he should live forever and never see corruption,

10For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the brutish person perish together, and leave their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is that their houses shall go on forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12Nevertheless man, though high in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the way of the foolish, and of their followers who delight in their sayings. Selah.

14Like sheep they are appointed to the grave; death shall be their shepherd and the upright shall have the rule over them in the morning; and their form shall decay in the grave far from their home.

15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He will receive me. Selah.

16Be not afraid when one becomes rich, when the wealth of his house increases;

17For when he dies he shall take nothing with him; his wealth shall not descend after him.

18Though during his life he blessed his soul; yea, men will praise you when you do well to yourself.

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

20A man in honor, but without understanding, is like the beasts; they shall perish.