The Folly of Trusting in Riches

491 Hear this , all peoples ; Give ear , all inhabitants of the world , 2 Both low e and high e , Rich and poor together . 3 My mouth will speak wisdom , And the meditation of my heart will be understanding . 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb ; I will express my riddle on the harp . 5 Why should I fear in days of adversity , When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,

6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches ? 7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him- 8 For the redemption of his soul is costly , And he should cease trying forever - 9 That he should live on eternally , That he should not undergo decay . 10 For he sees that even wise men die ; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others . 11 Their inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations ; They have called their lands after their own names . 12 But man in his pomp will not endure ; He is like the beasts that perish . 13 This is the way of those who are foolish , And of those after them who approve their words . Selah . 14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol ; Death shall be their shepherd ; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning , And their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation .

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol , For He will receive me. Selah . 16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich , When the glory of his house is increased ; 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing e away; His glory will not descend after him. 18 Though while he lives he congratulates himself - And though men praise you when you do well for yourself- 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers ; They will never e e see the light . 20 Man in his pomp , yet without understanding , Is like the beasts that perish .