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

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

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

2 ¶ Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

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 dark saying upon the harp.

4 ¶ I will incline mine ear to a parable:
I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

5 ¶ Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil,
When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

6 ¶ They that trust in their wealth,
And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

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

7 ¶ None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him:

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

8 ¶ (For the redemption of their soul is costly,
And must be let alone for ever:)

9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

9 ¶ That he should still live alway,
That he should not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

10 ¶ For he seeth that wise men die,
The fool and the brutish together perish,
And leave their wealth to others.

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

11 ¶ Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They call their lands after their own names.

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

12 ¶ But man abideth not in honour:
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

13 ¶ This their way is their folly:
Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

14 ¶ They are appointed as a flock for Sheol;
Death shall be their shepherd:
And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it.

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

15 ¶ But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol:
For he shall receive me. [Selah

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

16 ¶ Be not thou afraid when one is made 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.

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

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

18 ¶ Though while he lived he blessed his soul,
And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

19 ¶ He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never see the light.

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

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