¹Hear this, all people, and give ear,

all in the world that dwell;

²Both low and high, both rich and poor.

³My mouth shall wisdom tell:

My heart shall knowledge meditate.

⁴I will incline mine ear

To parables, and on the harp

my sayings dark declare.

⁵Amidst those days that evil be,

why should I, fearing, doubt?

When of my heels th’ iniquity

shall compass me about.

⁶Whoe’er they be that in their wealth

their confidence do pitch,

And boast themselves, because they are

become exceeding rich:

⁷Yet none of these his brother can

redeem by any way;

Nor can he unto God for him

sufficient ransom pay,

⁸(Their soul’s redemption precious is,

and it can never be,)

⁹That still he should for ever live,

and not corruption see.

¹⁰For why? he seeth that wise men die,

and brutish fools also

Do perish; and their wealth, when dead,

to others they let go.

¹¹Their inward thought is, that their house

and dwelling-places shall

Stand through all ages; they their lands

by their own names do call.

¹²But yet in honour shall not man

abide continually;

But passing hence, may be compar’d

unto the beasts that die.

¹³Thus brutish folly plainly is

their wisdom and their way;

Yet their posterity approve

what they do fondly say.

¹⁴Like sheep they in the grave are laid,

and death shall them devour;

And in the morning upright men

shall over them have pow’r:

Their beauty from their dwelling shall

consume within the grave.

¹⁵But from hell’s hand God will me free,

for he shall me receive.

¹⁶Be thou not then afraid when one

enriched thou dost see,

Nor when the glory of his house

advanced is on high:

¹⁷For he shall carry nothing hence

when death his days doth end;

Nor shall his glory after him

into the grave descend.

¹⁸Although he his own soul did bless

whilst he on earth did live;

(And when thou to thyself dost well,

men will thee praises give;)

¹⁹He to his fathers’ race shall go,

they never shall see light.

²⁰Man honour’d wanting knowledge is

like beasts that perish quite.