Psalms 49

For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.

1Hear this, all peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

2both low and high, rich and poor together.

3My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding.

4I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will open my riddle with the lyre.

5Why should I fear in days of evil, when iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

6those who trust in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches—

7Surely no man can redeem a brother, or give to God his ransom—

8For the ransom of their lives is costly—one must give up forever.

9that he should still live on forever and not see the Pit.

10For he sees that wise men die; together the fool and the senseless man perish, and they leave their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation; they name lands after themselves.

12But man in honor does not last overnight; he is like the beasts that perish.

13This is their way—their folly; yet those who come after them approve of what they say. Selah

14Like sheep they are set for Sheol; death will shepherd them, and the upright will rule over them in the morning. Their form will waste away in Sheol, far from their lofty dwelling.

15But God will redeem my life from the hand of Sheol, for he will take me. Selah

16Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases;

17For at his death he will take nothing; his glory will not go down after him.

18For he counts himself blessed while he lives, and people praise you when you prosper.

19You will go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light.

20A man who is honored but lacks understanding is like the beasts that perish.