Psalms 49

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

For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all ye nations, hearken, all ye that dwell upon the earth:

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

both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

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

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.

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

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

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

Wherefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

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.

They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

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,

A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

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

or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

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

and live to the end, [so] 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.

When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

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!

And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called 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.

And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

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 an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

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 have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (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 shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

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

Fear not when a man is enriched, and 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 he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

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

For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to thee when thou dost well to him.

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

[Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

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

Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.