Dual Panel1For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who inhabit the world,
2both low and high, rich and poor together.
3My mouth speaks wisdom; my heart's meditation brings understanding.
4I turn my ear to a proverb; I explain my riddle with a lyre.
5Why should I fear in times of trouble? The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.
6They trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches.
7Yet these cannot redeem a person or pay his ransom to God--
8since the price of redeeming him is too costly, one should forever stop trying--
9so that he may live forever and not see the Pit.
10For one can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
11Their graves are their eternal homes, their homes from generation to generation, though they have named estates after themselves.
12But despite his assets, man will not last; he is like the animals that perish.
13This is the way of those who are arrogant, and of their followers, who approve of their words. Selah
14Like sheep they are headed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
15But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah
16Do not be afraid when a man gets rich, when the wealth of his house increases.
17For when he dies, he will take nothing at all; his wealth will not follow him down.
18Though he praises himself during his lifetime--and people praise you when you do well for yourself--
19he will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.
20A man with valuable possessions but without understanding is like the animals that perish.