Psalm 49
Misplaced Trust in Wealth
For the choir director. A psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 Hear this, all you peoples;
listen, all who inhabit the world, i
rich and poor together. j
my heart’s meditation brings understanding. k
I explain my riddle with a lyre. l
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me. m
and boast of their abundant riches. n
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person L
or pay his ransom to God o—
8 since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying M,p—
and not see the Pit. q
10 For one can see that the wise die;
the foolish and stupid also pass away. r
Then they leave their wealth to others. s
11 Their graves are their permanent homes, N
their dwellings from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves. t
12 But despite his assets, O mankind will not last;
he is like the animals that perish. u
13 This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words. P,v Selah
14 Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning, w
and their form will waste away in Sheol, Q
far from their lofty abode. x
from the power of Sheol,
for he will take me. y Selah
16 Do not be afraid when a person gets rich,
when the wealth R of his house increases. z
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth will not follow him down. a
18 Though he blesses himself during his lifetime—
and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself b—
19 he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light. c
but without understanding,
is like the animals that perish. d