1For the leader. A psalm of the descendants of Korach: Hear this, all you peoples! Listen, everyone living on earth,
2regardless of whether low or high, regardless of whether rich or poor!
3My mouth is about to speak wisdom; my heart's deepest thoughts will give understanding.
4I will listen with care to [God's] parable, I will set my enigma to the music of the lyre.
5Why should I fear when the days bring trouble, when the evil of my pursuers surrounds me,
6the evil of those who rely on their wealth and boast how rich they are?
7No one can ever redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8because the price for him is too high (leave the idea completely alone!)
9to have him live on eternally and never see the pit.
10For he can see that wise men will die, likewise the fool and the brute will perish and leave their wealth to others.
11They think their homes will last forever, their dwellings through all generations; they give their own names to their estates.
12But people, even rich ones, will live only briefly; then, like animals, they will die.
13This is the manner of life of the foolish and those who come after, approving their words. (Selah)
14Like sheep, they are destined for Sh'ol; death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning; and their forms will waste away in Sh'ol, until they need no dwelling.
15But God will redeem me from Sh'ol's control, because he will receive me. (Selah)
16Don't be afraid when someone gets rich, when the wealth of his family grows.
17For when he dies, he won't take it with him; his wealth will not go down after him.
18True, while he lived, he thought himself happy people praise you when you do well for yourself
19but he will join his ancestors' generations and never again see light.
20People, even rich ones, can fail to grasp that, like animals, they will die.