Psalm 49

1Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world, 2both low and high, rich and poor together. 3My heart shall utter understanding. My mouth will speak words of wisdom. 4I will open my riddle on the harp. I will incline my ear to a proverb. 5when iniquity at my heels surrounds me? Why should I fear in the days of evil, 6and boast in the multitude of their riches— Those who trust in their wealth, 7none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him. 8no payment is ever enough, For the redemption of their life is costly, 9That he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption. 10likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others. For he sees that wise men die; 11and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves. Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, 12He is like the animals that perish. But man, despite his riches, doesn’t endure. 13and of those who approve their sayings. This is the destiny of those who are foolish, Selah. 14Death shall be their shepherd. * far from their mansion. They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. * The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. 15for he will receive me. But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, * Selah. 16when the glory of his house is increased. Don’t be afraid when a man is made rich, 17His glory shall not descend after him. For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. 18and men praise you when you do well for yourself— Though while he lived he blessed his soul— 19he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light. 20is like the animals that perish. A man who has riches without understanding,