Psalm 49. Audite haec, omnes.

1. Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *
   you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
2. My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *
   and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
3. I will incline my ear to a proverb *
   and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
4. Why should I be afraid in evil days, *
   when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
5. The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *
   and boast of their great riches?
6. We can never ransom ourselves, *
   or deliver to God the price of our life;
7. For the ransom of our life is so great, *
   that we should never have enough to pay it,
8. In order to live for ever and ever, *
   and never see the grave.
9. For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish *
   and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
10. Their graves shall be their homes for ever, their dwelling places from generation to generation, *
    though they call the lands after their own names.
11. Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *
    they are like the beasts that perish.
12. Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, *
    and the end of those who delight in their own words.
13. Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die; Death is their shepherd; *
    they go down straightway to the grave.
14. Their form shall waste away, *
    and the land of the dead shall be their home.
15. But God will ransom my life; *
    he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
16. Do not be envious when some become rich, *
    or when the grandeur of their house increases;
17. For they will carry nothing away at their death, *
    nor will their grandeur follow them.
18. Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived, *
    and were praised for their success,
19. They shall join the company of their forebears, *
    who will never see the light again.
20. Those who are honored, but have no understanding, *
    are like the beasts that perish.