¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for² the sons of Korah. Hear³ this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants⁴ of the world:

⁵Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

My mouth⁶ shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation⁷ of my heart shall be of understanding.

I will incline⁸ mine ear to a parable⁹: I will open my dark¹⁰ saying upon the harp.

Wherefore¹¹ should I fear in the days¹² of evil, when the iniquity¹³ of my heels¹⁴ shall compass me about?

¶ They that trust¹⁵ in their wealth, and boast¹⁶ themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give¹⁷ to God a ransom for him:

¹⁸(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

That he¹⁹ should still live for ever, and not see²⁰ corruption.

¶ For he seeth that wise²¹ men die, likewise the fool²² and the brutish person perish, and leave²³ their wealth to others.

Their inward²⁴ thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations²⁵; they call their lands after their own names.

Nevertheless man being in honour²⁶ abideth²⁷ not: he is like the beasts²⁸ that perish.

This their way is their folly²⁹: yet their posterity approve their sayings³⁰. Selah.

Like³¹ sheep they³² are laid in the grave; death³³ shall feed on them; and the upright³⁴ shall have dominion over them in the morning³⁵; and their³⁶ beauty³⁷ shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

¶ But God³⁸ will redeem my soul from the power³⁹ of the grave: for he shall⁴⁰ receive me. Selah.

Be not⁴¹ thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory⁴² of his house is increased;

For when he dieth he shall⁴³ carry nothing away: his⁴⁴ glory shall not descend after him.

Though while he lived⁴⁵ he blessed his soul: and men will praise⁴⁶ thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

He⁴⁷ shall go to the generation⁴⁸ of his fathers; they shall never⁴⁹ see light.

¶ Man⁵⁰ that is in honour, and understandeth⁵¹ not, is like⁵² the beasts that perish.