1 Hear this, all you peoples; ♦
listen, all you that dwell in the world,
2 You of low or high degree, ♦
both rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom ♦
and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a parable; ♦
I will unfold my riddle with the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in evil days, ♦
when the malice of my foes surrounds me,
6 Such as trust in their goods ♦
and glory in the abundance of their riches?
7 For no one can indeed ransom another ♦
or pay to God the price of deliverance.
8 To ransom a soul is too costly; ♦
there is no price one could pay for it,
9 So that they might live for ever, ♦
and never see the grave.
10 For we see that the wise die also;
with the foolish and ignorant they perish ♦
and leave their riches to others.
11 Their tomb is their home for ever,
their dwelling through all generations, ♦
though they call their lands after their own names.
12 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦
are like the beasts that perish.
13 Such is the way of those who boast in themselves, ♦
the end of those who delight in their own words.
14 Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
death is their shepherd; ♦
they go down straight to the Pit.
15 Their beauty shall waste away, ♦
and the land of the dead shall be their dwelling.
16 But God shall ransom my soul; ♦
from the grasp of death will he take me.
17 Be not afraid if some grow rich ♦
and the glory of their house increases,
18 For they will carry nothing away when they die, ♦
nor will their glory follow after them.
19 Though they count themselves happy while they live ♦
and praise you for your success,
20 They shall enter the company of their ancestors ♦
who will nevermore see the light.
21 Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦
are like the beasts that perish.
Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000 and published by Church House Publishing.
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