Psalms 49

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

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

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

whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!

3 [because] what I am thinking is very sensible, and what I say will enable you to become wise!

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

4 I think about [MTY] (proverbs/wise sayings), and while I play my harp, I explain what they mean.

I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune 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 be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround 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 trust in their wealth; they boast about 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,

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

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

Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough

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

that they could live forever and not face the grave.

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.

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

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

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

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

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 way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (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)

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)

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 surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (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 disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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