Psalms 49

1 You people of all ethnic groups, listen! You people all over the world,

Hear this, all ye peoples. Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

2 important people and unimportant people, rich people and poor people, everyone, [listen to what I am saying],

both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 [because] what I am thinking is very sensible, and what I say will enable you to become wise!

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4 I think about [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings), and while I play my harp, I explain what they mean.

I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 I am not [RHQ] afraid when I am in trouble/danger, when I am surrounded by my enemies,

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels encompasses me about?

6 by evil men who trust that [things will always go well for them because] they are wealthy, and who boast about being very rich.

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches,

7 [They may be rich], but no one can pay money with the result that he would live forever! No one can pay God enough so that God will allow him [to continue] to live,

none can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him

8 because that cost is too great, and he will never be able to pay enough

(for the redemption of their life is costly, and it fails forever),

9 with the result that he will live forever and never [die and] be buried!

that he should still live always, that he should not see corruption.

10 We see that foolish and stupid people die, but we see that wise people also die; they all leave their wealth, and others inherit it.

For he shall see it. Wise men die. The fool and the brutish alike perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Those wise people once had [houses on] land that they owned, [but now] their graves are their homes forever, the place where they will stay for all time!

Their inward thought is that their houses are forever, their dwelling-places to all generations. They call their lands after their own names.

12 Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying; all people die, the same as animals do.

Even a man in splendor does not abide. He is like the beasts that perish.

13 That is what happens to those who foolishly trust [in what they have accomplished], to those who are delighted in [all] that they possess.

This their way is their folly. Yet after them men approve their sayings. (Selah)

14 They are certain to die just like sheep, when a shepherd leads them away to be slaughtered. [PRS, MET] In the morning righteous people will rule over them, and then [those wealthy people will die and] their bodies will quickly decay in their graves; they will be where dead people are, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)

15 But it is certain that God will rescue me so that I am not kept in the place of the dead. (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 [So], do not be dismayed when someone becomes rich and the houses where they live become more and more luxurious,

Be not thou afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

17 because when he dies, he will take nothing with him; his wealth will not go with him.

For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

18 While [a rich person] is alive, he congratulates himself, and people praise him for being successful,

Though while he lived he blessed his soul (and men praise thee, when thou do well for thyself),

19 but he will [die], joining his ancestors, who will never see daylight again.

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

20 Even if someone is great, that cannot prevent him from dying; he will die, the same as animals do.

A man who is in splendor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish.