| 1 | To the Overseer.—By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world. |
| 2 | Both low and high, together rich and needy. |
| 3 | My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding. |
| 4 | I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle: |
| 5 | Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me. |
| 6 | Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish. |
| 7 | A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement. |
| 8 | And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased—to the age. |
| 9 | And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit. |
| 10 | For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth. |
| 11 | Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands. |
| 12 | And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off. |
| 13 | This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah. |
| 14 | As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. |
| 15 | Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah. |
| 16 | Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant, |
| 17 | For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him. |
| 18 | For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.) |
| 19 | It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light. |
| 20 | Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off! |