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

2: Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

3: My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4: I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5: Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6: They that 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 ceaseth for ever:)

9: That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10: For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11: 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.

12: Nevertheless man being in honour abideth 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 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.

15: But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16: Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17: For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18: Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

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

20: Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.