1[For the choir director; a psalm by Korah's descendants.] Listen to this, all you people. Open your ears, all who live in the world-

2common people and important ones, rich people and poor ones.

3My mouth will speak wise sayings, the insights I have carefully considered.

4I will turn my attention to a proverb. I will explain my riddle with the [music of] a lyre.

5Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when slanderers surround me with evil?

6They trust their riches and brag about their abundant wealth.

7No one can ever buy back another person or pay God a ransom for his life.

8The price to be paid for his soul is too costly. He must always give up

9in order to live forever and never see the pit.

10Indeed, one can see that wise people die, that foolish and stupid people meet the same end. They leave their riches to others.

11Although they named their lands after themselves, their graves have become their homes for ages to come, their dwelling places throughout every generation.

12But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die.

13This is the final outcome for fools and their followers who are delighted by what they say: [Selah]

14Like sheep, they are driven to hell with death as their shepherd. (Decent people will rule them in the morning.) Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes.

15But God will buy me back from the power of hell because he will take me. [Selah]

16Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases.

17He will not take anything with him when he dies. His greatness cannot follow him.

18Even though he blesses himself while he is alive (and they praise you when you do well for yourself),

19he must join the generation of his ancestors, who will never see light [again].

20Mortals, with what they treasure, still don't have understanding. They are like animals that die.