⁵ That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

⁶ Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;

⁷ Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?

⁸ He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

²⁴ They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.

¹¹ 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.

¹² Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

¹⁴ Like 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.

¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

¹⁶ Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

¹⁷ For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

¹⁸ Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

¹⁹ He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

²⁰ Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.