Psalms 49
1Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.
2\49:1\Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all you who are living in the world.
3\49:2\High and low together, the poor, and those who have wealth.
4\49:3\From my mouth will come words of wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge.
5\49:4\I will put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
6\49:5\What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me?
7\49:6\Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are lifted up because of their stores.
8\49:7\Truly, no man may get back his soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself;
9\49:8\(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)
10\49:9\So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.
11\49:10\For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.
12\49:11\The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.
13\49:12\But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
14\49:13\This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)
15\49:14\Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.
16\49:15\But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)
17\49:16\Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;
18\49:17\For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
19\49:18\Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,
20\49:19\He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.
21\49:20\Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.