For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.
49:1 Listen to this, all you nations!
Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world! 2
49:2 Pay attention, all you people, 3
both rich and poor!
49:3 I will declare a wise saying; 4
I will share my profound thoughts. 5
49:4 I will learn a song that imparts wisdom;
I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp. 6
49:5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, 7
when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me? 8
49:6 They trust 9 in their wealth
and boast 10 in their great riches.
49:7 Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; 11
he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price 12
49:8 (the ransom price for a human life 13 is too high,
and people go to their final destiny), 14
49:9 so that he might continue to live 15 forever
and not experience death. 16
49:10 Surely 17 one sees 18 that even wise people die; 19
fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away 20
and leave their wealth to others. 21
49:11 Their grave becomes their permanent residence,
their eternal dwelling place. 22
They name their lands after themselves, 23
49:12 but, despite their wealth, people do not last, 24
they are like animals 25 that perish. 26
49:13 This is the destiny of fools, 27
and of those who approve of their philosophy. 28 (Selah)
49:14 They will travel to Sheol like sheep, 29
with death as their shepherd. 30
The godly will rule 31 over them when the day of vindication dawns; 32
Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses. 33
49:15 But 34 God will rescue 35 my life 36 from the power 37 of Sheol;
certainly 38 he will pull me to safety. 39 (Selah)
49:16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich 40
and his wealth multiplies! 41
49:17 For he will take nothing with him when he dies;
his wealth will not follow him down into the grave. 42
49:18 He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive:
“May men praise you, for you have done well!”
49:19 But he will join his ancestors; 43
they will never again see the light of day. 44
49:20 Wealthy people do not understand; 45
they are like animals 46 that perish. 47