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- {To the chief Musician.
Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:
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- Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.
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- My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding:
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- I will incline mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon the harp.
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- Wherefore should I fear in the days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth me?
—
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- They depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance of their riches.
…
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- None can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,
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- (For the redemption of their soul is costly, and must be given up for ever,)
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- That he should still live perpetually, [and] not see corruption.
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- For he seeth that wise men die;
all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they leave their wealth to others.
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- Their inward thought is, that their houses are for ever,their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the lands after their own names.
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- Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
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- This their way is their folly, yet they that come after them delight in their sayings.
Selah.
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- Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them;
and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them.
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- But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol: for he will receive me.
Selah.
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- Be not afraid when a man becometh rich, when the glory of his house is increased:
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- For when he dieth, he shall carry nothing away;
his glory shall not descend after him.
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- Though he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —
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- It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they shall never see light.
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- Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
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