Psalm49
Wealth and the Fate of the Wicked
For the music director. Of the sons of Korah. A psalm.
1Hear this, all you peoples;give ear, all you 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 ⸤propound⸥ my riddle on a lyre.5Why should I fear in ⸤times of calamity⸥, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels,6those who trust their wealthand boast about the abundance of their riches?7Surely a man cannot redeem a brother.He cannot give to God his ransom8(since the redemption price for their life is costlyand it always fails),9so that he may stay alive foreverand not see the pit.10For he sees that the wise die,together with the fool and brute they perish,and leave their wealth to the next generation.11Within them they think their houses are forever,their dwelling places from generation to generation.They ⸤name⸥ their lands by their own names.12But man cannot continue in his pomp.He is like the beasts that perish.13This is the journey of those who have foolish confidence,and those after them who accept their sayings. Selah14Like sheep they are destined to Sheol;death will shepherd them.But the upright will rule over them in the morning,and their forms will be for Sheol to consume,far from his lofty abode.15Surely God will ransom my lifefrom the ⸤power⸥ of Sheol,because he will receive me. Selah16Do not fear when a man becomes rich,when the wealth of his house increases,17because when he dies he will not take away any of it.His wealth will not follow down after him.18Though he congratulated his soul while he was living—and people will praise you when you do well for yourself—19it will go to the generation of his fathers.Never will they see light.20Humankind in its pomp, but does not understand,is like the beasts that perish.Logos Bible Software