Psalms 49
1 You people of all ethnic groups, listen! You people all over the world,
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, 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],
Both high and low, 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 mind shall be 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 poem; I will utter my song 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 adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries 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 who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness 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,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 because that cost is too great, and he will never be able to pay enough
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 with the result that he will live forever and never [die and] be buried!
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
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, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, 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!
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Even if people are great, that cannot prevent them from dying; all people die, the same as animals do.
Yet man, who is in honor, 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.
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (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)
Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (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 life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (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 one 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 will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 While [a rich person] is alive, he congratulates himself, and people praise him for being successful,
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 but he will [die], joining his ancestors, who will never see daylight again.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Even if someone is great, that cannot prevent him from dying; he will die, the same as animals do.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
