Psalms 49 — NETB

For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.

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