1For the Conductor, by the sons of Korach, a psalm.
2Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all you inhabitants of the world;
3sons of common folk and sons of nobility, rich and poor alike.
4My mouth speaks wisdom, and the thoughts of my heart are understanding.
5I incline my ear to the parable; I will unravel my riddle upon the harp.
6Why am I afraid in times of trouble? [Because] the sins I trod upon surround me.
7There are those who rely on their wealth, who boast of their great riches.
8Yet a man cannot redeem his brother, nor pay his ransom to God.
9The redemption of their soul is too costly, and forever unattainable.
10Can one live forever, never to see the grave?
11Though he sees that wise men die, that the fool and the senseless both perish, leaving their wealth to others-
12[nevertheless,] in their inner thoughts their houses will last forever, their dwellings for generation after generation; they have proclaimed their names throughout the lands.
13But man will not repose in glory; he is likened to the silenced animals.
14This is their way-their folly remains with them, and their descendants approve of their talk, Selah.
15Like sheep, they are destined for the grave; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright will dominate them at morning; their form will rot in the grave, away from its abode.
16But God will redeem my soul from the hands of the grave, for He will take me, Selah.
17Do not fear when a man grows rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
18for when he dies he will take nothing, his glory will not descend after him.
19For he [alone] praises himself in his lifetime; but [all] will praise you if you better yourself.
20He will come to the generation of his forefathers; they shall not see light for all eternity.
21Man [can live] in glory but does not understand; he is likened to the silenced animals.