Psalms 49

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

Unto the end, a psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these things, all ye nations: 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],

All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: both 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 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 parable; I will open my proposition on the psaltery.

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

Why shall I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall encompass 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 own strength, and glory 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,

No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: he shall not give to God his ransom,

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

Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: and shall labour for ever,

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

And shall still live unto the end.

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.

He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: the senseless and the fool shall perish together: And they shall leave their riches 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 shall be their houses for ever. Their dwelling places to all generations: they have called their lands by their names.

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

And man when he was in honour did not understand; he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become 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 way of theirs is a stumblingblock to them: and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.

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 laid in hell like sheep: death shall feed upon them. And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their help shall decay in hell 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 will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, when he shall receive me. (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 shall be made rich, and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

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

For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; nor shall his glory descend with him.

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

For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

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

He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: and 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 when he was in honour did not understand: he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.