1 万民哪！ 你们要听这话； 世上的居民哪！ 你们要留心听。

2 不论地位高低， 或贫或富， 都要一同留心听。

3 我的口要说出智慧的话； 我的心要默想明智的事。

4 我要留心聆听箴言； 我要弹琴解开谜语。

5 在患难的日子， 暗中迫害我的恶人围绕我的时候， 我何须惧怕呢？

6 他们倚靠财富， 自夸多财。

7 但他们没有一个能把他的兄弟赎回， 或把他的赎价交给 神，

8 （因为他生命的赎价非常昂贵， 只好永远放弃， ）

9 使他永远活着， 不见朽坏。

10 他看见智慧人死去， 愚昧人和愚顽人一同灭亡， 把他们的财产留给别人。

11 他们心里想， 他们的家必永存， 他们的住处必留到万代； 他们以自己的名， 称自己的地方。

12 但是人不能长享富贵； 他们就像要灭亡的牲畜一样。

13 这就是愚昧人的道路； 但在他们以后的人， 还欣赏他们的话。（细拉）

14 他们好像羊群被派定下阴间； 死亡必作他们的牧人。到了早晨， 正直人要管辖他们； 他们的形体必被阴间消灭， 他们再没有住处。

15 但 神必救赎我的灵魂脱离阴间的权势， 因为他必把我接去。（细拉）

16 别人发财， 家室增荣的时候， 你不要惧怕。

17 因为他死的时候， 什么也不能带走； 他的荣华也不能随他下去。

18 他在世的时候， 虽然自称是有福的， 并且说： "只要你丰足， 人就称赞你。"

19 他还要归到他历代的祖宗那里去， 永不再见光明。

20 人享富贵而不聪明， 就像要灭亡的牲畜一样。

1 Hear this, all ye peoples;

Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

2 Both low and high,

Rich and poor together.

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;

And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I will incline mine ear to a parable:

I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil,

When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?

6 They that trust in their wealth,

And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,

Nor give to God a ransom for him

8 (For the redemption of their life is costly,

And it faileth for ever),

9 That he should still live alway,

That he should not see corruption.

10 For he shall see it. Wise men die;

The fool and the brutish alike perish,

And leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever,

And their dwelling-places to all generations;

They call their lands after their own names.

12 But man being in honor abideth not:

He is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly:

Yet after them men approve their sayings. [Selah

14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol;

Death shall be their shepherd:

And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;

And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume,

That there be no habitation for it.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol;

For he will receive me. [Selah

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich,

When the glory of his house is increased:

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away;

His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul

(And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself),

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;

They shall never see the light.

20 Man that is in honor, and understandeth not,

Is like the beasts that perish.