1
Hear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:
2
both the sons of mean men, and sons of great men; the rich and poor man together.
3
My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring forth understanding.
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I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.
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Wherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.
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They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—
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A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,
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or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,
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and live to the end, so that he should not see corruption.
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When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.
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And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, even their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.
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And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.
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This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. Pause.
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They have laid them as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory.
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But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. Pause.
16
Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.
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For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.
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For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.
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Yet he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.
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Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.