Psalm 49a
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me —
when wicked deceivers surround me —
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
and boast of their great riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them —
or give to God a ransom for them —
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough —
no payment is ever enough —
9 so that they should live on forever
and not see decay.
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their housesb forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they hadc named lands after themselves.
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they hadc named lands after themselves.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.d
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.d
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed —
and people praise you when you prosper —
and people praise you when you prosper —
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
are like the beasts that perish.