财富的虚幻

可拉后裔的诗,交给乐长。

49 万民啊,你们要听!
世人啊,
不论贵贱贫富,都要留心听!
因为我口出智慧,心思明智。
我要侧耳听箴言,
弹琴解释人生之谜。

危难来临,四面被奸诈之徒包围时,我何必惧怕?
他们倚靠金钱、夸耀财富,
却不能救赎自己的生命,
也无法向上帝付生命的赎价。
因为生命的赎价高昂,
无人付得起,
以致可以永远活着,不进坟墓。
10 众所周知,即使智者也要死去,
愚人和庸者也要灭亡,
将他们的财富留给别人。
11 尽管他们用自己的名字来为产业命名,
坟墓却是他们永远的归宿,
世代的住处。
12 人不能长享富贵,
终必死去,与兽无异。
13 这就是愚昧人及其追随者的下场!(细拉)
14 他们注定要死,与羊无异,
死亡是他们的牧者;
到了早晨,
他们必被正直人管辖。
他们的躯体必朽烂在坟墓里,
远离自己的豪宅。
15 但上帝必救赎我的生命脱离死亡的权势,
接我到祂身边。(细拉)

16 因此,见他人财富增多,
日益奢华,
不要害怕。
17 因为他们死后什么也带不走,
再不能拥有荣华富贵。
18 他们活着时自以为有福,
人们都赞扬他们的成就,
19 到头来他们还是要归到祖先那里,
再也看不见光明。
20 人有财富,却无明智的心,
无异于必死的兽类。

49 Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:

Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?

They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

10 For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.

14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.

16 Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;

17 For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.

18 Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

49 Hear this, all you people! Give ear, all you who dwell in the world,

low as well as high, both rich and poor!

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart is of knowledge.

I will incline my ear to a parable and utter my high saying upon the harp.

Why should I fear in the evil days, when the iniquity at my heels shall surround me?

They trust in their goods and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.

Yet a man can by no means redeem his brother. He cannot give his ransom to God,

(so precious is the redemption of their souls, and ceases forever)

so that he may yet live forever and not see the grave.

10 For he sees that wise men die; and also that the ignorant and foolish perish and leave their riches for others.

11 They think their houses and their habitations shall continue forever, from generation to generation. And they call their lands by their names.

12 But man shall not continue in honor. He is like the beasts that die.

13 This is the way of those who utter foolishness. Their posterity delights in their talk. Selah.

14 Like sheep they lie in the grave. Death devours them. And the righteous shall have domination over them in the morning. For their beauty shall be consumed, from their house to grave.

15 But God shall deliver my soul from the power of the grave; for He will receive me. Selah.

16 Do not be afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his House is increased.

17 For he shall take nothing away when he dies, nor shall his pomp descend after him.

18 For while he lived, he rejoiced over himself (and men will praise you when you make much of yourself).

19 He shall enter into the generation of his fathers. They shall not live forever.

20 An honored man who does not understand; he is like beasts that perish. A Psalm of Asaph.

Psalm 49[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Hear(A) this, all you peoples;(B)
    listen, all who live in this world,(C)
both low and high,(D)
    rich and poor alike:
My mouth will speak words of wisdom;(E)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.(F)
I will turn my ear to a proverb;(G)
    with the harp(H) I will expound my riddle:(I)

Why should I fear(J) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
those who trust in their wealth(K)
    and boast(L) of their great riches?(M)
No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
the ransom(N) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—(O)
so that they should live on(P) forever
    and not see decay.(Q)
10 For all can see that the wise die,(R)
    that the foolish and the senseless(S) also perish,
    leaving their wealth(T) to others.(U)
11 Their tombs(V) will remain their houses[b] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,(W)
    though they had[c] named(X) lands after themselves.

12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;(Y)
    they are like the beasts that perish.(Z)

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,(AA)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined(AB) to die;(AC)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail(AD) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;(AE)
    he will surely take me to himself.(AF)
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing(AG) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.(AH)
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—(AI)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,(AJ)
    who will never again see the light(AK) of life.

20 People who have wealth but lack understanding(AL)
    are like the beasts that perish.(AM)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
  2. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
  3. Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
  4. Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.