For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
49 Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 Both low and high, Rich and poor together. 3 My mouth will speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart will beunderstanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will [a]express my riddle on the harp.
5 Why should I fear in days of adversity, When the iniquity of my [b]foes surrounds me, 6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? 7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him— 8 For the redemption of [c]his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever— 9 That he should live on eternally, That he should not [d]undergo decay.
10 For he sees that evenwise men die; The stupid and the senseless alike perish And leave their wealth to others. 11 Their [e]inner thought is that their houses are forever And their dwelling places to all generations; They have called their lands after their own names. 12 But man in his[f]pomp will not endure; He is like the [g]beasts that [h]perish.
13 This is the way of those who are foolish, And of those after them who approve their words. [i]Selah. 14 As sheep they are appointed for [j]Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, And their form shall be for [k]Sheol to consume [l]So that they have no habitation. 15 But God will redeem my soul from the [m]power of [n]Sheol, For He will receive me. Selah.
16 Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the [o]glory of his house is increased; 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His [p]glory will not descend after him. 18 Though while he lives he congratulates [q]himself— And though men praise you when you do well for yourself— 19 [r]He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light. 20 Man in his[s]pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the [t]beasts that [u]perish.
