Psalm 49

¹Listen to this, all you people!

Listen closely, all you citizens of the world—

²people of every kind,

rich and poor alike!

³My mouth speaks wisdom;

my heart’s meditation is full of insight.

⁴I will pay close attention to a proverb;

I will explain my riddle on the lyre.

⁵Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,

when the wrongdoing of my bullies engulfs me—

⁷Wealth? It can’t save a single person!

It can’t pay a life’s ransom-price to God.

⁸The price to save someone’s life is too high—

wealth will never be enough—

¹⁰Everyone knows that the wise die too,

just like foolish and stupid people do,

¹¹Their graves are their eternal homes,[#49.11 Correction with LXX]

the place they live for all generations,

¹²People won’t live any longer because of wealth;

they’re just like the animals that pass away.

¹³That’s how it goes for those who are foolish,

as well as for those who follow their lead, pleased with their talk.

Selah

¹⁴Like sheep, they’re headed straight for the grave.[#49.14 Heb ; also again in 49:7, 15]

Death will be their shepherd—

but those who do right in their hearts will rule over them come morning!—

their forms wasting away in the grave

rather than having some dignified residence.

¹⁵But God will save my life from the power of the grave,

because he will take me. Selah

¹⁶Don’t be overly impressed when someone becomes rich,

their house swelling to fantastic proportions,

¹⁷because when they die, they won’t take any of it with them.

Their fantastic things won’t accompany them down under.

¹⁸Though they consider themselves blessed during their lives,

and even thank you when you deal well with them,

¹⁹they too will join the ancestors who’ve gone ahead;

they too will never see the light again.

²⁰Wealthy people? They just don’t understand;

they’re just like the animals

that pass away.