Psalms 49
1 For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
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.
2 whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
3 For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.
From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
4 I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.
I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
5 Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
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?
6 They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
7 but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.
Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
8 Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough
(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
9 that they could live forever and not face the grave.
So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
10 Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.
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.
11 They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.
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.
12 But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.
But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
13 This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (Selah)
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)
14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)
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)
15 But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
17 For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.
For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—
Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
19 but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
20 Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
