5Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6Those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the multitude of their riches,
7None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
8For the redemption of their souls is costly,
And it shall cease forever—
9That he should continue to live eternally,
And not [b]see the Pit.

10For he sees wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
11[c]Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,
Their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.
12Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not [d]remain;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
14Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
Death shall feed on them;
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be consumed in [e]the grave, far from their dwelling.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of [f]the grave,
For He shall receive me. Selah

16Do not be afraid when one becomes 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.
18Though while he lives he blesses himself
(For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
19He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see light.[g]
20A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
Is like the beasts that perish.