^1. HEAR this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

^2. Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

^3. My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

^4. I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will [1] express my riddle on the harp.

^5. Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my [2] foes surrounds me,

^6. Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?

^7. No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him --

^8. For the redemption of [3] his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever --

^9. That he should live on eternally, That he should not [4] undergo decay.

^10. For he sees that even wise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others.

^11. Their [5] inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names.

^12. But man in his [8] pomp will not endure; He is like the [7] beasts that [6] perish.

^13. This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words.

^14. As sheep they are appointed for [11] Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for [10] Sheol to consume [9] So that they have no habitation.

^15. But God will redeem my soul from the [13] power of [12] Sheol, For He will receive me.

^16. Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the [14] glory of his house is increased;

^17. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His [15] glory will not descend after him.

^18. Though while he lives he congratulates [16] himself -- And though men praise you when you do well for yourself --

^19. [17] He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light.

^20. Man in his [20] pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the [19] beasts that [18] perish.