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1.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,
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2.
both low and high, rich and poor alike:
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3.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding.
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4.
I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:
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5.
Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me--
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6.
those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?
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7.
No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--
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8.
the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--
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9.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
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10.
For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
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11.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves.
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12.
But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
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13.
This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah
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14.
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.
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15.
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. Selah
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16.
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases;
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17.
for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
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18.
Though while he lived he counted himself blessed--and men praise you when you prosper--
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19.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life.
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20.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
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