1: Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of
the world: |
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2: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. |
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3:
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart
shall be of understanding. |
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4: I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark
saying upon the harp. |
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5: Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity
of my heels shall compass me about? |
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6: They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches; |
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7: None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to
God a ransom for him: |
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8: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth
for ever:) |
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9: That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
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10: For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the
brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. |
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11: Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for
ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their
lands after their own names. |
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12: Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the
beasts that perish. |
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13: This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve
their sayings. Selah. |
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14: Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on
them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and
their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. |
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15: But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for
he shall receive me. Selah. |
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16: Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of
his house is increased; |
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17: For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory
shall not descend after him. |
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18: Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will
praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself. |
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19: He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall
never see light. |
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20: Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the
beasts that perish. |