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 Psalmus Asaph. [Deus deorum Dominus locutus est,et vocavit terram a solis ortu usque ad occasum.2 Ex Sion species decoris ejus :3 Deus manifeste veniet ;Deus noster, et non silebit.Ignis in conspectu ejus exardescet ;et in circuitu ejus tempestas valida.4 Advocabit clum desursum, et terram,discernere populum suum.5 Congregate illi sanctos ejus,qui ordinant testamentum ejus super sacrificia.6 Et annuntiabunt cli justitiam ejus,quoniam Deus judex est.7 Audi, populus meus, et loquar ;Isral, et testificabor tibi :Deus, Deus tuus ego sum.8 Non in sacrificiis tuis arguam te ;holocausta autem tua in conspectu meo sunt semper.9 Non accipiam de domo tua vitulos,neque de gregibus tuis hircos :10 quoniam me sunt omnes fer silvarum,jumenta in montibus, et boves.11 Cognovi omnia volatilia cli,et pulchritudo agri mecum est.12 Si esuriero, non dicam tibi :meus est enim orbis terr et plenitudo ejus.13 Numquid manducabo carnes taurorum ?aut sanguinem hircorum potabo ?14 Immola Deo sacrificium laudis,et redde Altissimo vota tua.15 Et invoca me in die tribulationis :eruam te, et honorificabis me.16 Peccatori autem dixit Deus : Quare tu enarras justitias meas ?et assumis testamentum meum per os tuum ?17 Tu vero odisti disciplinam,et projecisti sermones meos retrorsum.18 Si videbas furem, currebas cum eo ;et cum adulteris portionem tuam ponebas.19 Os tuum abundavit malitia,et lingua tua concinnabat dolos.20 Sedens adversus fratrem tuum loquebaris,et adversus filium matris tu ponebas scandalum.21 Hc fecisti, et tacui.Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis :arguam te, et statuam contra faciem tuam.22 Intelligite hc, qui obliviscimini Deum,nequando rapiat, et non sit qui eripiat.23 Sacrificium laudis honorificabit me,et illic iter quo ostendam illi salutare Dei.]