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- <Alamoth.
To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.>
Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
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- High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
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- From my mouth will come words of wisdom;
and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
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- I will put my teaching into a story;
I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
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- What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
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- Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
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- Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
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- (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
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- So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
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- For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
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- The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations;
those who come after them give their names to their lands.
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- But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever;
he comes to an end like the beasts.
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- This is the way of the foolish;
their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)
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- Death will give them their food like sheep;
the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.
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- But God will get back my soul;
for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)
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- Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
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- For at his death, he will take nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
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- Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
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- He will go to the generation of his fathers;
he will not see the light again.
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- Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever;
he comes to an end like the beasts.
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