| 1 | <Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.> Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world. |
| 2 | High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth. |
| 3 | From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge. |
| 4 | I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music. |
| 5 | What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me? |
| 6 | Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores. |
| 7 | Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself; |
| 8 | (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.) |
| 9 | So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld. |
| 10 | For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others. |
| 11 | The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands. |
| 12 | But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |
| 13 | This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.) |
| 14 | Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. |
| 15 | But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.) |
| 16 | Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased; |
| 17 | For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. |
| 18 | Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself, |
| 19 | He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again. |
| 20 | Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts. |
