Psalms 49

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

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

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

both low and high, 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 will speak words of wisdom. My heart will utter 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 proverb. I will solve my riddle on 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 evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds 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.

Those who trust in their wealth, and boast 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,

none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give 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 life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

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

that he should live on forever, 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.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, 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!

Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

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

But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. He is like the animals 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 is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve 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)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (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,

Don’t be afraid when a man is made 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 dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul— and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

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

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

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

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.