1To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. HEAR THIS, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2Both low and high, rich and poor together:
3My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4I will submit and consent to a parable or proverb; to the music of a lyre I will unfold my riddle (my problem).
5Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side,
6Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him--
8For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice--
9So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.
10For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names.
12But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.
13This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
14Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the place of the dead); death shall be their shepherd. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form and beauty shall be consumed, for Sheol shall be their dwelling.
15But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
16Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;
17For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.
18Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well [for himself],
19He will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light.
20A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.