The Transiency of the Wealth
(Psalm 16:1-11; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9)
1{To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.} Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.
3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.
4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.
5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?
6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.
13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.
15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;
17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.
18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.
19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Evanescence of Wealth
(Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)
1 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
6 Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches—
7 none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.
8 For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
10 For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah.
14 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion.
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.
16 Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.
The Evanescence of Wealth
(Ecclesiastes 5:8–20)
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike.
3 My mouth will impart wisdom,
and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast in their great riches.
7 No man can possibly redeem his brother a
or pay his ransom to God.
8 For the redemption of his soul is costly,
and never can payment suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For it is clear that wise men die,
and the foolish and the senseless both perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves b are their eternal homes—
their dwellings for endless generations—
even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of the self-confident c
and their followers who endorse their sayings.
Selah
14 Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.
Death will be their shepherd.
The upright will rule them in the morning,
and their form will decay in Sheol,
far from their lofty abode.
15 But God will redeem my life from Sheol,
for He will surely take me to Himself.
Selah
16 Do not be amazed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases.
17 For when he dies, he will carry nothing away;
his abundance will not follow him down.
18 Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—
and men praise you when you prosper—
19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of day.
20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.
Footnotes:
7 a Or redeem another
11 b LXX, Syriac, and Aramaic Targum; Hebrew Their inward thoughts
13 c Or the way of the foolish
The Transiency of the Wealth
(Psalm 16:1-11; Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9)
1To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.
2Both low and high, together rich and needy.
3My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart are things of understanding.
4I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:
5Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.
6Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.
7A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.
8And precious is the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased -- to the age.
9And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.
10For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.
11Their heart is: Their houses are to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.
12And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.
13This their way is folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. Selah.
14As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form is for consumption. Sheol is a dwelling for him.
15Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. Selah.
16Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,
17For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.
18For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)
19It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.
20Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!
