Refrain: Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
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. [R]
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. [R]
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. [R]
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.
Refrain: Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.
Save us from envy, God our Redeemer,
and deliver us from the chains of wealth,
that, ransomed through your Son,
we may inherit the crown of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Common Worship: Daily Prayer, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2005 and published by Church House Publishing.