| 1
| Hear this, all you peoples;
hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *
you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
|
| 2
| My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
|
| 3
| I will incline my ear to a proverb *
and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
|
| 4
| Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
|
| 5
| The wickedness of those who put their trust
in their goods, *
and boast of their great riches?
|
| 6
| We can never ransom ourselves, *
or deliver to God the price of our life;
|
| 7
| For the ransom of our life is so great, *
that we should never have enough to pay it,
|
| 8
| In order to live for ever and ever, *
and never see the grave.
|
| 9
| For we see that the wise die also;
like the dull and stupid they perish *
and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
|
| 10
| Their graves shall be their homes for ever,
their dwelling places from generation to generation, *
though they call the lands after their own names.
|
| 11
| Even though honored, they cannot live for
ever; *
they are like the beasts that perish.
|
| 12
| Such is the way of those who foolishly trust
in themselves, *
and the end of those who delight in their own words.
|
| 13
| Like a flock of sheep they are destined to
die;
Death is their shepherd; *
they go down straightway to the grave.
|
| 14
| Their form shall waste away, *
and the land of the dead shall be their home.
|
| 15
| But God will ransom my life; *
he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
|
| 16
| Do not be envious when some become rich,
*
or when the grandeur of their house increases;
|
| 17
| For they will carry nothing away at their
death, *
nor will their grandeur follow them.
|
| 18
| Though they thought highly of themselves
while they lived, *
and were praised for their success,
|
| 19
| They shall join the company of their forebears,
*
who will never see the light again.
|
| 20
| Those who are honored, but have no understanding,
*
are like the beasts that perish.
|
