Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

The Confidence of the FoolishTo the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.

2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together.3 My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him8 For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever9 That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit.10 For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.11 Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish.13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.18 Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, 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.