Psalm 49
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
[49:1] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, [49:2] both low and high, rich and poor together. [49:3] My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding. [49:4] I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp. [49:5] Why should I fear in the days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? [49:6] Those who trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches-- [49:7] none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. [49:8] For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough, [49:9] That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. [49:10] For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. [49:11] Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. [49:12] But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish. [49:13] This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. Selah. [49:14] 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. [49:15] But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah. [49:16] Don't be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased. [49:17] For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him. [49:18] Though while he lived he blessed his soul-- and men praise you when you do well for yourself-- [49:19] he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light. [49:20] A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.