Listen to me all of you peoples;


Hear me, all who live in this world,

Both high and low, rich and poor alike.


I will speak out words of wisdom;


Utterances from my heart 

Will give you understanding when you listen.


I will turn my ear 

To a proverb, turn an ear,


And with the harp I will expound a  riddle.

Why should I fear when evil days are come

And I’m surrounded by wicked and

Deceiving men who boast in riches.

For no - one can redeem another’s life 


Or pay to God a ransom.

For the ransom it is far too costly;


The ransom is too costly;

No payment is enough,


That they should live forever and never decay.

All can see that wise men die,

The foolish and the senseless alike;

All perish, leaving all of their wealth to others.


Their tombs remain their houses,

Dwelling there forever, through all time,


Although they  gave their names to lands they lived in.

So man despite his riches, 

He will not endure,

And men despite their wealth will perish like beasts.

This is then the fate of those who trust themselves

And all who follow them,

Approving all of what they’re saying.


They like sheep are bound for the grave,


And death itself will feed on them,


And in the morning they’ll be ruled by the upright.


And in their graves decaying, 

So far from princely halls;

But God redeems my life from the realms of the dead.


When a man grows rich and all the splendour 

Of his house increases, 

Do not then be overawed by him.

For they will take nothing with them;

When he dies his splendour it won’t go down with him,

Although men had thought him blessed.

They will join their fathers

Who never see the light;


So those without true knowledge

Perish like beasts.