For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world,

But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me.Selah

Yet these cannot redeem a person
or pay his ransom to God—

Like 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.

But despite his assets, man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.

They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.

Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth of his house increases.

since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying—

A man with valuable possessions
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish.

For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.
Then they leave their wealth to others.

My mouth speaks wisdom;
my heart’s meditation brings understanding.

Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.

Their graves are their eternal homes,
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.

This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.Selah

both low and high,
rich and poor together.

I turn my ear to a proverb;
I explain my riddle with a lyre.

he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light.

For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth will not follow him down.

so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.

Though he praises himself during his lifetime—
and people praise you when you do well for yourself—