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Audite haec, omnesBCP p. 6521Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.
2My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *and my heart shall meditate on understanding.
3I will incline my ear to a proverb *and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
4Why should I be afraid in evil days, *when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,
5The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *and boast of their great riches?
6We can never ransom ourselves, *or deliver to God the price of our life;
7For the ransom of our life is so great, *that we should never have enough to pay it,
8In order to live for ever and ever, *and never see the grave.
9For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish *and leave their wealth to those who come after them.
10Their graves shall be their homes for ever, their dwelling places from generation to generation, *though they call the lands after their own names.
11Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *they are like the beasts that perish.
12Such is the way of those who foolishly trust in themselves, *and the end of those who delight in their own words.
13Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die; Death is their shepherd; *they go down straightway to the grave.
14Their form shall waste away, *and the land of the dead shall be their home.
15But God will ransom my life; *he will snatch me from the grasp of death.
16Do not be envious when some become rich, *or when the grandeur of their house increases;
17For they will carry nothing away at their death, *nor will their grandeur follow them.
18Though they thought highly of themselves while they lived, *and were praised for their success,
19They shall join the company of their forebears, *who will never see the light again.
20Those who are honored, but have no understanding, *are like the beasts that perish.