3
My mouth will 2speakwisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be 3understanding.
4
I will incline my ear to 4a proverb; 5I will express my 6riddle on the harp.
5
Why should I 7fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my foessurrounds me,
6
Even those who 8trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches?
7
Noman can by anymeans9redeem his brotherOrgive to God a 10ransom for him-
8
For 11the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever -
9
That he should 12live on eternally, That he should not 13undergodecay.
10
For he sees that even 14wisemendie; The 15stupid and the senselessalikeperish And 16leave their wealth to others.
11
Their 17innerthought is that their houses18are forever And their dwellingplaces to allgenerations; They have 19called their lands after their own names.
12
But 20man in his pomp will not endure; He is like the beasts that perish.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Aben Ezra says this psalm is a very excellent one, since in it is explained the Light of the world to come, and of the rational and immortal soul; and Kimchi is of opinion that it respects both this world and that which is to come: and indeed it treats of the vanity of trusting in riches: of the insufficiency of them for the redemption of the soul; of the short continuance of worldly honour and substance; of the certainty of death, and of the resurrection of the dead. And the design of it is to expose the folly of trusting in uncertain riches, and to comfort the people of God under the want of them.