To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Qoraĥ.

For the conductor, of the sons of Korach, a psalm.

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

Hear this, all of the peoples [(who trust to their wealth)]; listen, all who dwell upon the [ephemeral] earth.

both low and high, rich and poor, together.

Both the sons of adam [Abraham, viz. Joshua 14:15] and the sons of ish [Noah, viz. Genesis 6:9], rich and poor alike.

My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

My mouth will speak wisdoms, and the thoughts of my heart are cogent ones.

I will incline my ear to a parable: I will open my riddle to the lyre.

I shall incline my ear to the parable [(to the words of Torah, viz. I Samuel 24:13)]; I shall open my riddle with the lyre:

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my persecutors compasses me about?

Why should I fear in the days of evil [i.e., on the day of reckoning]? — [because] the ["slight"] transgressions that I tread underfoot surround me.

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

[How much more so should those fear] who trust in their wealth and who vaunt themselves in their great riches!

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

A man cannot redeem his brother [from death with money]; he will not [be able to] give G d his ransom.

for the redemption of their soul is too dear, and he leaves it for ever:

The redemption of their souls is too dear, and he would ever forbear [from attempting to ransom him].

that he might still live for ever, and not see the pit.

Would he [his brother] then live on forever and not see the pit?

When he sees that wise men die, that the fool and the brutish person perish together, and leave their wealth to others:

For he sees sages die [(in this world)], the fools and the ignorant alike going lost [(in this world and the next)], and leaving their wealth to others. [(Perforce, then, one would not attempt to ransom his brother from death.)]

their 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.

[Notwithstanding this,] in their hearts [they feel that] their houses will endure forever, their dwellings, from generation to generation, [and] they call [their houses] by their names upon the earth.

Nevertheless man abides not in honour: he is like the beasts that perish.

But man does not abide in his glory; he is silenced like the beasts.

This is their way in their folly: and their posterity who approve their sayings. (Sela.)

This, their way, is folly to them, and [those who come] after them, with their mouths relate it forever.

Like sheep they are appointed to She᾽ol; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall waste away in She᾽ol, leaving behind their dwelling.

Like sheep [(gathered to the corral)], they [the wicked] are consigned to sheol [Gehinnom], [The angel of] death will devour them, and the just will rule over them in the morning [(on the day of Israel's redemption, viz. Malachi 3:21)], and their form will outlast sheol from [providing] habitation for them, [(the sun completing their incineration)].

But God will redeem my soul from the power of She᾽ol: for he shall receive me. (Sela.)

But G d will redeem my soul from sheol, for [seeing that I have inclined my ear to the parable (verse 5)], He will take me [in my lifetime to walk in His ways] forever.

Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

Do not fear when a man grows rich, when the honor of his household grows.

for when he dies he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

For not in his death will he take it all; his honor shall not follow him [to the grave].

Though while he lives he blesses his soul: and though men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself:

For he [(the wicked one)] blesses his soul in his life [(saying: "Peace to you, my soul; no harm will befall you" — but others do not say the same about him)]; but [you, if you hearken to My words, all] will praise you, for you will have conferred good upon yourself.

it shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

[When you die,] you will come [and see] the generation of his [(the wicked one's)] fathers [being judged in Gehinnom], not to see light forever.

Man that is in honour, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.

A man who glories [in his wealth] and does not understand [that the true path of life and glory (Torah) has been set before him to choose] — [such a man] will be silenced like the beasts.