Psalm 49

To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.

1Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:footnote a

2Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

3My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

4I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

6They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.footnote b

12Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.footnote c

14Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.footnote dfootnote e

15But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.footnote ffootnote g

16Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.footnote h

19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.footnote i

20Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

The Evanescence of Wealth

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1Hear this, all you peoples;listen, all inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high,rich and poor alike. 3My mouth will impart wisdom,and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding. 4I will incline my ear to a proverb;I will express my riddle with the harp:

5Why should I fear in times of trouble,when wicked usurpers surround me? 6They trust in their wealthand boast in their great riches. 7No man can possibly redeem his brotherfootnote aor pay his ransom to God. 8For the redemption of his soul is costly,and never can payment suffice, 9that he should live on foreverand not see decay.

10For it is clear that wise men die,and the foolish and the senseless both perishand leave their wealth to others. 11Their gravesfootnote bare their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes. 12But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure;he is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the fate of the foolishfootnote cand their followers who endorse their sayings.Selah 14Like sheep they are destined for Sheol.Death will be their shepherd.The upright will rule them in the morning,and their form will decay in Sheol,far from their lofty abode. 15But God will redeem my life from Sheol,for He will surely take me to Himself.Selah 16Do not be afraid when a man grows rich,when the splendor of his house increases. 17For when he dies, he will carry nothing away;his abundance will not follow him down. 18Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper— 19he will join the generation of his fathers,who will never see the light of day. 20A man who has riches without understandingis like the beasts that perish.