Psalm 49

1  HEAR THIS, all you peoples; give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,2  Both low and high, rich and poor together:3  My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.4  I will submit and consent to a parable or proverb; to the music of a lyre I will unfold my riddle (my problem).5  Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side,6  Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?7  None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him--8  For the ransom of a life is too costly, and [the price one can pay] can never suffice--9  So that he should live on forever and never see the pit (the grave) and corruption.10  For he sees that even wise men die; the [self-confident] fool and the stupid alike perish and leave their wealth to others.11  Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands their own [apart from God] and after their own names.12  But man, with all his honor and pomp, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.13  This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident, yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!14  Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the place of the dead); death shall be their shepherd. And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form and beauty shall be consumed, for Sheol shall be their dwelling.15  But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!16  Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;17  For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.18  Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well [for himself],19  He will go to the generation of his fathers, who will nevermore see the light.20  A man who is held in honor and understands not is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm 49

For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.

1 Listen to this, all you nations!
Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!

2 Pay attention, all you people,
both rich and poor!

3 I will declare a wise saying;
I will share my profound thoughts.

4 I will learn a song that imparts wisdom;
I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.

5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,
when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?

6 They trust in their wealth
and boast in their great riches.

7 Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother;
he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price

8 (the ransom price for a human life is too high,
and people go to their final destiny),

9 so that he might continue to live forever
and not experience death.

10 Surely one sees that even wise people die;
fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away
and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence,
their eternal dwelling place.
They name their lands after themselves,

12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last,
they are like animals that perish.

13 This is the destiny of fools,
and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)

14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep,
with death as their shepherd.
The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns;
Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.

15 But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol;
certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah)

16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich
and his wealth multiplies!

17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies;
his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.

18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:
“May men praise you, for you have done well!”

19 But he will join his ancestors;
they will never again see the light of day.

20 Wealthy people do not understand;
they are like animals that perish.