1<> Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world: 2Both low and high, rich and poor, together. 3My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart intelligence. 4I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will declare my enigma upon the harp. 5Why should I fear in the days of adversity [when] the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about? 6Those that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7none [of them] can by any means ransom his brother, nor give God an atonement for him; 8(for the redemption of their soul [is] of great price, and they shall never pay [it]) 9that he should still live for ever [and] not see corruption. 10For he sees [that] all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant perish and leave their wealth to others. 11Their inward thought [is] [that] their houses are eternal [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names. 12Nevertheless man will not abide [forever] in honour; he is like the beasts [that] are cut off. 13This their way [is] their folly; yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah. 14Like sheep they are laid in Sheol; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave from their dwelling. 15Surely God will ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol when he shall take me. Selah. 16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased; 17for in his death he shall carry nothing away; nor shall his glory descend after him. 18Though while he lives, his life shall be blessed: and [men] will praise thee when thou art prosperous. 19He shall enter into the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light forever. 20Man [that is] in honour that does not understand is like the beasts [that] are cut off.: