Study Desk

For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,^(a)

both low and high,^[a] rich and poor together.^(b)

My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation brings understanding.^(c)

I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.^(d)

Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.^(e)

They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.^(f)

Yet these cannot redeem a person^[b] or pay his ransom to God^(g)—

since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying^[c](h)—

so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.⁽ⁱ⁾

For one can see that wise men die; foolish and stupid men also pass away.^(j) Then they leave their wealth to others.^(k)

Their graves are their eternal homes,^[d] their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.^(l)

But despite his assets,^[e] man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.^(m)

This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words.^[f](n) Selah

Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning,^(o) and their form will waste away in Sheol,^[g] far from their lofty abode.^(p)

But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me.^(q) Selah

Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth^[h] of his house increases.^(r)

For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth^[i] will not follow him down.^(s)

Though he praises himself during his lifetime— and people praise you when you do well for yourself^(t)—

he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.^(u)

A man with valuable possessions^[j] but without understanding is like the animals that perish.^(v)