Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.
¹Hear this, all you peoples;
   give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
²both low and high,
   rich and poor together.
³My mouth shall speak wisdom;
   the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
⁴I will incline my ear to a proverb;
   I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

⁵Why should I fear in times of trouble,
   when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
⁶those who trust in their wealth
   and boast of the abundance of their riches?
⁷Truly, no ransom avails for one’s life,^*
   there is no price one can give to God for it.
⁸For the ransom of life is costly,
   and can never suffice,
⁹that one should live on for ever
   and never see the grave.^*