To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
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.
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?
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:
8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9 That he should still live for ever, and 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.
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.
13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity 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.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
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.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19 He 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.
1 To him that excelleth. A Psalme committed to the sonnes of Korah. Heare this, all ye people: giue eare, all ye that dwell in the world, 2 As well lowe as hie, both rich and poore. 3 My mouth shall speake of wisdome, and the meditation of mine heart is of knowledge. 4 I will incline mine eare to a parable, and vtter my graue matter vpon the harpe. 5 Wherefore should I feare in the euil dayes, when iniquitie shall compasse me about, as at mine heeles? 6 They trust in their goods, and boast them selues in the multitude of their riches. 7 Yet a man can by no meanes redeeme his brother: he can not giue his raunsome to God, 8 (So precious is the redemption of their soules, and the continuance for euer) 9 That he may liue still for euer, and not see the graue. 10 For he seeth that wise men die, and also that the ignorant and foolish perish, and leaue their riches for others. 11 Yet they thinke, their houses, and their habitations shall continue for euer, euen from generation to generation, and call their lands by their names. 12 But man shall not continue in honour: he is like the beastes that die. 13 This their way vttereth their foolishnes: yet their posteritie delite in their talke. Selah. 14 Like sheepe they lie in graue: death deuoureth them, and the righteous shall haue domination ouer them in the morning: for their beautie shall consume, when they shall goe from their house to graue. 15 But God shall deliuer my soule from the power of the graue: for he will receiue me. Selah. 16 Be not thou afrayd when one is made rich, and when the glory of his house is increased. 17 For he shall take nothing away when he dieth, neither shall his pompe descende after him. 18 For while he liued, he reioyced himselfe: and men will prayse thee, when thou makest much of thy selfe. 19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers, and they shall not liue for euer. 20 Man is in honour, and vnderstandeth not: he is like to beasts that perish.