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Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.

Hear this, all you peoples;
    give ear, all inhabitants of the world,(A)
both low and high,
    rich and poor together.
My mouth shall speak wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.(B)
I will incline my ear to a proverb;
    I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.(C)

Why should I fear in times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,(D)
those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?(E)
Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life;[a]
    there is no price one can give to God for it.(F)
For the ransom of life is costly
    and can never suffice,(G)
that one should live on forever
    and never see the Pit.(H)

10 When we look at the wise, they die;
    fool and dolt perish together
    and leave their wealth to others.(I)
11 Their graves[b] are their homes forever,
    their dwelling places to all generations,
    though they named lands their own.(J)
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.(K)

13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy,
    the end of those[c] who are pleased with their lot. Selah(L)
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    Death shall be their shepherd;
straight to the grave they descend,[d]
    and their form shall waste away;
    Sheol shall be their home.[e](M)
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will receive me. Selah(N)

16 Do not be afraid when some become rich,
    when the wealth of their houses increases.(O)
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away;
    their wealth will not go down after them.(P)
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy
    —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—(Q)
19 they[f] will go to the company of their ancestors,
    who will never again see the light.(R)
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
    they are like the animals that perish.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 49.7 Or no one can ransom a brother
  2. 49.11 Gk Syr Compare Tg: Heb their inward thought
  3. 49.13 Tg: Heb after them
  4. 49.14 Cn: Heb the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning
  5. 49.14 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  6. 49.19 Cn: Heb you

Why Should I Fear in Times of Trouble?

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah.

49 (B)Hear this, all peoples!
    Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
(C)both low and high,
    rich and poor together!
My mouth shall speak (D)wisdom;
    the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
I will incline my ear to (E)a proverb;
    I will solve my (F)riddle to the music of the lyre.

(G)Why should I fear in (H)times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
those who (I)trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
Truly no man (J)can ransom another,
    or (K)give to God (L)the price of his life,
for (M)the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
that he should live on forever
    and (N)never see the pit.

10 For he sees (O)that even the wise die;
    (P)the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and (Q)leave their wealth to others.
11 Their (R)graves are their homes forever,[a]
    their dwelling places (S)to all generations,
    though they (T)called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp (U)will not remain;
    (V)he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have (W)foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts.[b] Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright (X)shall rule over them in the morning.
    (Y)Their form shall be consumed (Z)in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will (AA)ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will (AB)receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
17 (AC)For when he dies he will (AD)carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself (AE)blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will (AF)go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again (AG)see light.
20 (AH)Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 49:11 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum; Hebrew Their inward thought was that their homes were forever
  2. Psalm 49:13 Or and of those after them who approve of their boasts