1 Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,2 both low and high, rich and poor alike:3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.4 I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:5 Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me —6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?7 No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them —8 the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough —9 so that they should live on forever and not see decay.10 For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.11 Their tombs will remain their houses "forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had "named lands after themselves.12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. [^3]14 They are like sheep and are destined to die; death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;17 for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed — and people praise you when you prosper —19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.20 People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.
1 لامام المغنين. لبني قورح. مزمور. اسمعوا هذا يا جميع الشعوب. اصغوا يا جميع سكان الدنيا2 عال ودون اغنياء وفقراء سواء.3 فمي يتكلم بالحكم ولهج قلبي فهم.4 اميل اذني الى مثل واوضح بعود لغزي5 لماذا اخاف في ايام الشر عندما يحيط بي اثم متعقّبيّ.6 الذين يتكلون على ثروتهم وبكثرة غناهم يفتخرون.7 الاخ لن يفدي الانسان فداء ولا يعطي الله كفارة عنه.8 وكريمة هي فدية نفوسهم فغلقت الى الدهر.9 حتى يحيا الى الابد فلا يرى القبر.10 بل يراه. الحكماء يموتون. كذلك الجاهل والبليد يهلكان ويتركان ثروتهما لآخرين.11 باطنهم ان بيوتهم الى الابد مساكنهم الى دور فدور. ينادون باسمائهم في الاراضي.12 والانسان في كرامة لا يبيت. يشبه البهائم التي تباد.13 هذا طريقهم اعتمادهم وخلفاؤهم يرتضون باقوالهم. سلاه.14 مثل الغنم للهاوية يساقون. الموت يرعاهم ويسودهم المستقيمون. غداة وصورتهم تبلى. الهاوية مسكن لهم.15 انما الله يفدي نفسي من يد الهاوية لانه يأخذني. سلاه16 لا تخش اذا استغنى انسان اذا زاد مجد بيته.17 لانه عند موته كله لا يأخذ. لا ينزل وراءه مجده.18 لانه في حياته يبارك نفسه. ويحمدونك اذا احسنت الى نفسك.19 تدخل الى جيل آبائه الذين لا يعاينون النور الى الابد.20 انسان في كرامة ولا يفهم يشبه البهائم التي تباد