To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. |
1 |
Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
|
2 |
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
|
3 |
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
|
4 |
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
|
5 |
Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
|
6 |
Those who trust in their wealth And boast 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 souls is costly, And it shall cease forever—
|
9 |
That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.
|
10 |
For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.
|
11 |
Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.
|
12 |
Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.
|
13 |
This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah
|
14 |
Like 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 the grave, far from their dwelling.
|
15 |
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah
|
16 |
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;
|
17 |
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
|
18 |
Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
|
19 |
He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.
|
20 |
A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts that perish.
|