⁵⁵ O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?^[a]”

¹⁴ “Should I ransom them from the grave^[a]?
    Should I redeem them from death?
O death, bring on your terrors!
    O grave, bring on your plagues!^[b]
    For I will not take pity on them.

⁴⁸ No one can live forever; all will die.
    No one can escape the power of the grave.^[a] Interlude

²⁷ For you will not leave my soul among the dead^[a]
    or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

⁸ Redemption does not come so easily,
    for no one can ever pay enough
⁹ to live forever
    and never see the grave.

¹⁰ Those who are wise must finally die,
    just like the foolish and senseless,
    leaving all their wealth behind.
¹¹ The grave^[a] is their eternal home,
    where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
¹²     but their fame will not last.
    They will die, just like animals.
¹³ This is the fate of fools,
    though they are remembered as being wise.^[b] Interlude

¹⁴ Like sheep, they are led to the grave,^[c]
    where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
    Their bodies will rot in the grave,
    far from their grand estates.
¹⁵ But as for me, God will redeem my life.
    He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude