The Psalms (WEB)
Psalm 49
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
49:1Hear this, all you peoples.
Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
49:2Both low and high,
Rich and poor together.
49:3My mouth will speak words of wisdom.
My heart shall utter understanding.
49:4I will incline my ear to a proverb.
I will open my riddle on the harp.
49:5Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
49:6Those who trust in their wealth,
And boast in the multitude of their riches --
49:7None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
Nor give God a ransom for him.
49:8For the redemption of their life is costly,
No payment is ever enough,
49:9That he should live on forever,
That he should not see corruption.
49:10For he sees that wise men die;
Likewise the fool and the senseless perish,
And leave their wealth to others.
49:11Their inward thought is, that their houses will endure forever,
And their dwelling places to all generations.
They name their lands after themselves.
49:12But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure.
He is like the animals that perish.
49:13This is the destiny of those who are foolish,
And of those who approve their sayings.
Selah.
49:14They are appointed as a flock for Sheol.
Death shall be their shepherd.
The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning.
Their beauty shall decay in Sheol,
Far from their mansion.
49:15But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol,
For he will receive me.
Selah.
49:16Don't be afraid when a man is made rich,
When the glory of his house is increased.
49:17For when he dies he shall carry nothing away.
His glory shall not descend after him.
49:18Though while he lived he blessed his soul --
And men praise you when you do well for yourself --
49:19He shall go to the generation of his fathers.
They shall never see the light.
49:20A man who has riches without understanding,
Is like the animals that perish.
World English Bible