Psalm 49
O hear this, all you peoples
: give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,
All children of men and sons of Adam
: both rich and poor alike.
For my mouth shall speak wisdom
: and the thoughts of my heart shall be full of understanding.
I will incline my ear to a riddle
: and unfold the mystery to the sounds of the harp.
Why should I fear in the evil days
: when the wickedness of my deceivers surrounds me,
Though they trust to their great wealth
: and boast of the abundance of their riches?
No man may ransom his brother
: or give God a price for him,
So that he may live for ever
: and never see the grave;
For to ransom men’s lives is so costly
: that he must abandon it for ever.
For we see that wise men die
: and perish with the foolish and the ignorant,
leaving their wealth to others.
The tomb is their home for ever,
their dwelling-place throughout all generations
: though they called estates after their own names.
A rich man without understanding
: is like the beasts that perish.
This is the lot of the foolish
: the end of those who are pleased with their own words.
They are driven like sheep into the grave,
and death is their shepherd
: they slip down easily into the tomb.
Their bright forms shall wear away in the grave
: and lose their former glory.
But God will ransom my life
: he will take me from the power of the grave.
Do not fear when a man grows rich
: when the wealth of his household increases,
For he will take nothing away when he dies
: nor will his wealth go down after him.
Though he counts himself happy while he lives
: and praises you also when you prosper,
He will go to the company of his fathers
: who will never see the light.
A rich man without understanding
: is like the beasts that perish.