Psalms - Chapter 49

¹ To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all peoples; Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

Call

² Both low and high, Rich and poor together.

³ My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my heart [shall give] understanding.

⁴ I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.

⁵ Why should I fear in the days of evil, [When] the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?

All Will Die

⁶ Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,

⁷ None [of them] can by any means redeem [his] brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him --

⁸ For the redemption of their souls [is] costly, And it shall cease forever --

⁹ That he should continue to live eternally, [And] not see the Pit.

¹⁰ For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their wealth to others.

¹¹ Their inner thought [is that] their houses [will last] forever, Their dwelling places to all generations; They call [their] lands after their own names.

¹² Nevertheless man, [though] in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts [that] perish.

¹³ This is the way of those who [are] foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah

However, After Death The Fate Is Sad for Sinners, The Pious Will Live With God

¹⁴ Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.

¹⁵ But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, For He shall receive me. Selah

¹⁶ Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased;

¹⁷ For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.

¹⁸ Though while he lives he blesses himself (For [men] will praise you when you do well for yourself),

¹⁹ He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see light.

²⁰ A man [who is] in honor, yet does not understand, Is like the beasts [that] perish.