3
My thoughts will be clear; I will speak words of wisdom.
4
I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp.
5
I am not afraid in times of danger when I am surrounded by enemies,
6
by evil people who trust in their riches and boast of their great wealth.
7
We can never redeem ourselves; we cannot pay God the price for our lives,
8
because the payment for a human life is too great. What we could pay would never be enough
9
to keep us from the grave, to let us live forever.
10
Anyone can see that even the wise die,
1 as well as the foolish and stupid. They all leave their riches to their descendants.
11
Their graves are their homes forever; there they stay for all time, though they once had lands of their own.
12
Our greatness cannot keep us from death; we will still die like the animals.
13
See what happens to those who trust in themselves, the fate of those who are satisfied with their wealth -