Study Desk

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,

both low and high, rich and poor alike:

both low and high, rich and poor alike:

My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me-

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-

No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-

the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—

that he should live on forever and not see decay.

so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.

For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.

Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.

Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.

But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.

Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.

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.

But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.

Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;

Do not be overawed when others grow rich, when the splendor of their houses increases;

for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.

for they will take nothing with them when they die, their splendor will not descend with them.

Though while he lived he counted himself blessed- and men praise you when you prosper-

Though while they live they count themselves blessed— and people praise you when you prosper—

he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life.

they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.

A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.