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To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.

¹ Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

² Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

³ My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:

⁴ I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.

⁵ Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me?—

⁶ They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches. …

⁷ None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,

⁸ (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)

⁹ That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.

¹⁰ For he seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

¹¹ Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.

¹² Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings. Selah.

¹⁴ Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.

¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me. Selah.

¹⁶ Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:

¹⁷ For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

¹⁸ Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime,—and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself,—

¹⁹ It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.

²⁰ Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.