1. 万民哪，你们都当听这话；世上一切的居民， Hear this, all you peoples; Give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
2. 无论上流下流，富足贫穷，都当侧耳听； Both low and high, Rich and poor together;
3. 我口要说智慧的话，我心所默想的是通达的事。 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will be that of understanding.
4. 我要侧耳听比喻，用琴解谜语。 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will disclose my riddle upon the harp.
5. 在患难的日子，欺诈我者的罪孽四面环绕我，我何必惧怕？ Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity of those who supplant me surrounds me,
6. 那些人不过是倚靠自己的财货，夸耀自己钱财的丰裕， Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches?
7. 他们一个也无法赎自己的弟兄，或替他将赎价给神， None can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him
8. (因为赎他生命的价值极贵，只可永远罢休，) ( For the redemption of their soul is costly And must be given up forever),
9. 叫他仍长远活着，不见朽坏。 That he would yet live always And not see corruption.
10. 他必见智慧人死亡；又见愚顽人和无知人一同灭亡，将他们的财货留给别人。 For he will see that wise men die; The foolish one and the senseless one perish alike And leave their wealth to others.
11. 他们心里思想，他们的家必永存，他们的住处必留到万代；他们以自己的名，称自己的地。 Their inward thought is that their houses will remain forever, That their habitations will remain from generation to generation; They call lands after their own names.
12. 但人在尊贵中不能长久，乃像要灭亡的畜类一样。 But man in honor does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.
13. 这就是信赖自己者的道路；也是在他们以后，称许他们话语者的道路。 细拉 Such is the way of those who are self-confident, And of those after them who approve of their sayings.
14. 他们如同羊群派定下阴间；死亡必牧养他们。并且他们要直下到坟墓，他们的形体必被阴间所灭，以致他们无处可住。 Like a flock, they are appointed for Sheol; Death will shepherd them. And straight to the grave they will descend, And their form will be for Sheol to consume That there be no abode for them.
15. 只是神必救赎我的魂，脱离阴间的能力，因祂必收纳我。 细拉 But God will redeem my soul From the power of Sheol, For He will receive me.
16. 见人发财、家室增荣的时候，你不要惧怕。 Do not fear when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house increases.
17. 因为他死的时候，什么也不能带去；他的荣耀不能随他下去。 For when he dies, he will take nothing; His glory will not descend after him.
18. 他活着的时候，虽然自求多福，(你若使自己得福，人必夸奖你，) Though he blessed his soul while he lived-And men praise you when you do good for yourself -
19. 他必到他历代的祖宗那里去；他们永不见光。 It will go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see light.
20. 人在尊贵中却没有悟性，就像要灭亡的畜类一样。 A man in honor but without understanding Is like the beasts that perish.