To the director.[265] A song from the Korah family.
<1> Listen to this, all you nations.
Pay attention, all you people on earth.
<2> Everyone, rich and poor, listen to me.
<3> I have some very wise words for you.
My thoughts will give you understanding.
<4> I myself listened to these sayings.
And now, with my harp, I will sing and make the hidden meaning clear.
<5> Why should I be afraid
when trouble comes?
There is no need to fear
when wicked enemies surround me.
<6> Some people think their wealth
will protect them, but they are fools.
<7> No human friends can save you,
and they cannot bribe[266] God.
<8> No one will ever get enough money
to buy their own life.
<9> No one will ever have enough
to buy the right to live forever
and keep their body out of the grave.
<10> Look, the wise die
the same as fools and stupid people.[267]
They die and leave their wealth to others.
<11> The grave will be their new home forever.
And how much land they owned
will not make any difference.
<12> People might be wealthy,
but they cannot stay here forever.
They will die like the animals.
<13> That is what happens to such people.
That is the fate of those who follow their desires.
Selah[268]
<14> They are just like sheep,
but the grave will be their pen.
Death will be their shepherd.
Then on that morning
the good people will be the winners,
while the bodies of those proud people slowly rot in the grave,
far away from their fancy houses.
<15> But God will pay the price
and save my life.[269]
He will save me from the power of the grave
when he takes me to be with him.
Selah
<16> Don't be afraid of people
just because they are rich.
Don't be afraid of people
just because they have big, fancy houses.
<17> They will not take anything with them
when they die.
They will not take their wealth with them.
<18> A wealthy man might congratulate himself on how well he has done in life.
And other people might praise him.
<19> But the time will come for him to die
and go to his ancestors.
And he will never again see the light of day.
<20> People might be wealthy
and still not understand that they will die like the animals.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.