¹¹ The Lord knows people’s thoughts;
    he knows they are worthless!

“The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise;
    he knows they are worthless.”^[a]

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
    and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”^[a]

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

¹¹ For he knows those who are false,
    and he takes note of all their sins.
¹² An empty-headed person won’t become wise
    any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.^[a]