1

לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי־קֹרַח מִזְמוֹר׃

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm.

2

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹאת כׇּל־הָעַמִּים הַאֲזִינוּ כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵי חָלֶד׃

Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

3

גַּם־בְּנֵי אָדָם גַּם־בְּנֵי־אִישׁ יַחַד עָשִׁיר וְאֶבְיוֹן׃

both low and high, rich and poor alike.

4

פִּי יְדַבֵּר חׇכְמוֹת וְהָגוּת לִבִּי תְבוּנוֹת׃

My mouth utters wisdom, my speech is full of insight.

5

אַטֶּה לְמָשָׁל אׇזְנִי אֶפְתַּח בְּכִנּוֹר חִידָתִי׃

I will turn my attention to a theme, set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre.

6

לָמָּה אִירָא בִּימֵי רָע עֲוֺן עֲקֵבַי יְסוּבֵּנִי׃

In time of trouble, why should I fear the encompassing evil of those who would supplant me—

7

הַבֹּטְחִים עַל־חֵילָם וּבְרֹב עׇשְׁרָם יִתְהַלָּלוּ׃

those who trust in their riches, who glory in their great wealth?

8

אָח לֹא־פָדֹה יִפְדֶּה אִישׁ לֹא־יִתֵּן לֵאלֹהִים כׇּפְרוֹ׃

Ah, it cannot redeem anyone, or pay one’s ransom to God;

9

וְיֵקַר פִּדְיוֹן נַפְשָׁם וְחָדַל לְעוֹלָם׃

the price of life is too high; and so one ceases to be, forever.

10

וִיחִי־עוֹד לָנֶצַח לֹא יִרְאֶה הַשָּׁחַת׃

Shall anyone live eternally, and never see the grave?

11

כִּי יִרְאֶה חֲכָמִים יָמוּתוּ יַחַד כְּסִיל וָבַעַר יֹאבֵדוּ וְעָזְבוּ לַאֲחֵרִים חֵילָם׃

For one sees that the wise die, that the foolish and ignorant both perish, leaving their wealth to others.

12

קִרְבָּם בָּתֵּימוֹ לְעוֹלָם מִשְׁכְּנֹתָם לְדוֹר וָדֹר קָרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹתָם עֲלֵי אֲדָמוֹת׃

Their grave is their eternal home, the dwelling-place for all generations of those once famous on earth.

13

וְאָדָם בִּיקָר בַּל־יָלִין נִמְשַׁל כַּבְּהֵמוֹת נִדְמוּ׃

Mortals do not abide in honor; they are like the beasts that perish.

14

זֶה דַרְכָּם כֵּסֶל לָמוֹ וְאַחֲרֵיהֶם בְּפִיהֶם יִרְצוּ סֶלָה׃

Such is the fate of those who are self-confident, the end of those pleased with their own talk. Selah.

15

כַּצֹּאן לִשְׁאוֹל שַׁתּוּ מָוֶת יִרְעֵם וַיִּרְדּוּ־בָם יְשָׁרִים לַבֹּקֶר (וצירם) [וְצוּרָם] לְבַלּוֹת שְׁאוֹל מִזְּבֻל לוֹ׃

Sheeplike they head for Sheol, with Death as their shepherd. The upright shall rule over them at daybreak, and their form shall waste away in Sheol till its nobility be gone.

16

אַךְ־אֱלֹהִים יִפְדֶּה נַפְשִׁי מִיַּד־שְׁאוֹל כִּי יִקָּחֵנִי סֶלָה׃

But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol, by taking me. Selah.

17

אַל־תִּירָא כִּי־יַעֲשִׁר אִישׁ כִּי־יִרְבֶּה כְּבוֹד בֵּיתוֹ׃

Do not be afraid when someone else becomes rich, when their household goods increase;

18

כִּי לֹא בְמוֹתוֹ יִקַּח הַכֹּל לֹא־יֵרֵד אַחֲרָיו כְּבוֹדוֹ׃

for when they die they can take none of it along; their goods cannot follow them down.

19

כִּי־נַפְשׁוֹ בְּחַיָּיו יְבָרֵךְ וְיוֹדֻךָ כִּי־תֵיטִיב לָךְ׃

Though they congratulate themselves in their lifetime —“All must admit that you did well by yourself”—

20

תָּבוֹא עַד־דּוֹר אֲבוֹתָיו עַד־נֵצַח לֹא יִרְאוּ־אוֹר׃

yet they must join the company of their ancestors, who will never see daylight again.

21

אָדָם בִּיקָר וְלֹא יָבִין נִמְשַׁל כַּבְּהֵמוֹת נִדְמוּ׃ {פ}

Mortals do not understand honor; they are like the beasts that perish.