Psalms 49
1 Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
2 High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
both low and high, rich and poor alike.
3 From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
4 I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will express my riddle with the harp:
5 What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
Why should I fear in times of trouble, when wicked usurpers surround me?
6 Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
7 Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
8 (Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice,
9 So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
10 For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.
11 The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
12 But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah)
This is the fate of the self-confident and their followers who endorse their sayings.
14 Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode. (Sheol h7585)
15 But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. (Sheol h7585)
16 Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
Do not be amazed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases.
17 For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down.
18 Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul— and men praise you when you prosper—
19 He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.
20 Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
