Psalms 49

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

To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world:

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

Both men of low and men of high degree, rich and poor alike.

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 mine ear to a parable, I will open my riddle upon 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 days of adversity, [when] the iniquity of my supplanters encompasseth 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 depend upon their wealth, and boast themselves in the abundance 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 soul is costly, and must be given up for ever, )

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

That he should still live perpetually, [and] 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 seeth that wise men die; all alike, the fool and the brutish perish, and they 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 for ever, their dwelling-places from generation to generation: they call the 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.

Nevertheless, man being in honour abideth not: 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 they that come after them delight in 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)

Like sheep are they laid in Sheol: Death feedeth on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their comeliness shall be for Sheol to consume, that there be no habitation for them. (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 afraid when a man becometh 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 dieth, 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 he blessed his soul in his lifetime, — and men will praise thee when thou doest well to thyself, —

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

It shall go to the generation of his fathers: they 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, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.