Psalm 49

Psalm 49

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

^*Hear^a this, all you peoples;^b

listen, all who live in this world,^c

both low and high,^d

rich and poor alike:

My mouth will speak words of wisdom;^e

the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.^f

I will turn my ear to a proverb;^g

with the harp^h I will expound my riddle:ⁱ

Why should I fear^j when evil days come,

when wicked deceivers surround me—

those who trust in their wealth^k

and boast^l of their great riches?^m

No one can redeem the life of another

or give to God a sufficient ransom—

the ransomⁿ for a life is costly,

no payment is ever enough—^o

so that someone should live on^p forever

and not see decay.^q

For all can see that the wise die,^r

that the foolish and the senseless^s also perish,

leaving their wealth^t to others.^u

Their tombs^v will remain their houses forever,

their dwellings for endless generations,^w

though they had named^x lands after themselves.

Human beings, despite their wealth, do not endure;^y

they are like the beasts that perish.^z

This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^a

and of their followers, who approve their sayings.

They are like sheep and are destined^b to die;^c

death will be their shepherd

(but the upright will prevail^d over them in the morning).

Their forms will decay in the grave,

far from their princely mansions.

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^e

he will surely take me to himself.^f

Do not be overawed when others grow rich,

when the splendor of their houses increases;

for they will take nothing^g with them when they die,

their splendor will not descend with them.^h

Though while they live they count themselves blessed—ⁱ

and people praise you when you prosper—

they will join those who have gone before them,^j

who will never again see the light^k of life.

Human beings who have wealth but lack understanding^l

are like the beasts that perish.^m