Psalm 49

Psalm 49

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.

1 Listen to this, all you people!
Pay attention, everyone in the world!2 High and low,
rich and poor—listen!3 For my words are wise,
and my thoughts are filled with insight.4 I listen carefully to many proverbs
and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.5 Why should I fear when trouble comes,
when enemies surround me?6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of great riches.7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from deatht
by paying a ransom to God.8 Redemption does not come so easily,
for no one can ever pay enough9 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 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.t
Interlude14 Like sheep, they are led to the grave,t
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.
Interlude16 So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich
and their homes become ever more splendid.17 For when they die, they take nothing with them.
Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate
and are applauded for their success.19 But they will die like all before them
and never again see the light of day.20 People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;
they will die, just like animals.

PSALMS 49

Don't Depend on Wealth

1 Everyone on this earth,
now listen to what I say!

2 Listen, no matter who you are,
rich or poor.

3 I speak words of wisdom,
and my thoughts make sense.

4 I have in mind a mystery
that I will explain
while playing my harp.

5 Why should I be afraid
in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
by vicious enemies?

6 They trust in their riches
and brag about
all their wealth.

7 You cannot buy back your life
or pay off God!

8 It costs far too much
to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough

9 to stay alive forever
and safe from death.

10  t We see that wise people die,
and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left
for someone else.

11 The gravet will be their home
forever and ever,
although they once had land
of their own.

12 Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.

13 Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
the words of fools:t

14 They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
leading them to the grave.
In the morning God's people
will walk all over them, t
as their bodies lie rotting
in their home, the grave.

15 But God will rescue me
from the power of death.

16 Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
and live in luxury.

17 Soon they will die
and all their wealth
will be left behind.

18 We humans are praised
when we do well,
and all of us are glad
to be alive.

19 But we each will go down
to our ancestors,
never again to see
the light of day.

20 Our human glory disappears,
and, like animals, we die.