Psalms 49

1 For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world

2 whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!

people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.

3 For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.

My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.

4 I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.

I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.

5 Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?

Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,

6 They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,

who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?

7 but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.

For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,

8 Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough

for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 that they could live forever and not face the grave.

to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.

10 Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.

But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.

11 They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.

The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.

12 But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.

Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.

13 This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (Selah)

This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)

14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)

Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)

15 But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.

So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.

17 For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.

Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.

18 They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—

Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,

19 but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.

they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.

20 Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.

The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.