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¹ Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.² High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.³ From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.⁴ I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.⁵ What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?

⁶ Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.⁷ Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;⁸ (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)⁹ So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.¹⁰ For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.¹¹ The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.¹² But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.¹³ This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)¹⁴ Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.

¹⁵ But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)¹⁶ Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;¹⁷ For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.¹⁸ Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,¹⁹ He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.²⁰ Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.