1  Hear this, all you peoples; ♦︎
   listen, all you that dwell in the world,
2  You of low or high degree, ♦︎
   both rich and poor together.
3  My mouth shall speak of wisdom ♦︎
   and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
4  I will incline my ear to a parable; ♦︎
   I will unfold my riddle with the lyre.
5  Why should I fear in evil days, ♦︎
   when the malice of my foes surrounds me,
6  Such as trust in their goods ♦︎
   and glory in the abundance of their riches?
7  For no one can indeed ransom another ♦︎
   or pay to God the price of deliverance.
8  To ransom a soul is too costly; ♦︎
   there is no price one could pay for it,
9  So that they might live for ever, ♦︎
   and never see the grave.
10  For we see that the wise die also;
      with the foolish and ignorant they perish ♦︎
   and leave their riches to others.
11  Their tomb is their home for ever,
      their dwelling through all generations, ♦︎
   though they call their lands after their own names.
12  Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦︎
   are like the beasts that perish.
13  Such is the way of those who boast in themselves, ♦︎
   the end of those who delight in their own words.
14  Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
      death is their shepherd; ♦︎
   they go down straight to the Pit.
15  Their beauty shall waste away, ♦︎
   and the land of the dead shall be their dwelling.
16  But God shall ransom my soul; ♦︎
   from the grasp of death will he take me.
17  Be not afraid if some grow rich ♦︎
   and the glory of their house increases,
18  For they will carry nothing away when they die, ♦︎
   nor will their glory follow after them.
19  Though they count themselves happy while they live ♦︎
   and praise you for your success,
20  They shall enter the company of their ancestors ♦︎
   who will nevermore see the light.
21  Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦︎
   are like the beasts that perish.