1Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—

2whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!

3For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.

4I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.

5Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?

6They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,

7but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.

8Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough

9that they could live forever and not face the grave.

10Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.

11They think ¹⁴⁸their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.

12But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. ¹⁴⁹They die, just like the animals.

13This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! ¹⁵⁰Selah.

14Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. ¹⁵¹Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes.

15But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. Selah.

16Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.

17For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave ¹⁵²with them.

18They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—

19but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.

20Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.