< 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 you nations, listen, all you 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,
Therefore 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 labor 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 honor, 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 offense 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 )
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 )
15 But it is certain that God will rescue me so that I am not kept in the place of the dead. (Sheol )
But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol )
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 you when you do 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 honor, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.