Psalms 49

1 Hear these things, all nations! Listen, all who live in the inhabited world—

2 both those born of the earth and human beings, rich and poor together.

3 My mouth will speak wisdom, and my heart’s meditation will bring understanding.

4 I will incline my ear to a parable; I will reveal my riddle with a harp.

5 Why should I fear on an evil day? The lawlessness at my heel will surround me.

6 Those who trust in their own strength and boast in their abundant wealth—

7 a brother does not ransom another; will any human ransom someone? He will not give God an atoning payment for himself

8 or the ransom price for his soul.

9 He ceased striving forever and will live to the end, because he will not see decay when he sees wise people die.

10 The fool and the senseless will perish together and leave their wealth to strangers.

11 Their graves are their houses forever, their tents from generation to generation. They named their lands after themselves.

12 A person who holds honor did not understand; he was compared to senseless cattle and became like them.

13 This way of theirs is a stumbling block to them, yet afterward they will approve of their own words. Pause.

14 They were placed in Hades like sheep; death shepherds them. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their help will grow old in Hades, far from their glory.

15 Yet God will ransom my soul from Hades’ hand when he receives me. Pause.

16 Do not fear when someone becomes rich or when the glory of his house increases.

17 When he dies, he will take none of it, nor will his glory descend with him.

18 His soul will be blessed during his life; he will give thanks to you when you do good to him.

19 He will enter the generation of his ancestors; he will never see light.

20 A person who holds honor did not understand; he was compared to senseless cattle and became like them.