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Psalm 49

The Folly of Trust in Riches

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

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

¹⁰ When we look at the wise, they die;
   fool and dolt perish together
   and leave their wealth to others.
¹¹ Their graves^* are their homes for ever,
   their dwelling-places to all generations,
   though they named lands their own.
¹² Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;
   they are like the animals that perish.

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

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