Psalm 49

1Hear this, all peoples; give ear, all who dwell in the world.

2both sons of Adam, both sons of man, rich and poor together.

3My mouth speaks wisdom, and the meditation of my heart is understanding.

4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will open my riddle.

5Why should I fear in days of evil, when iniquity of my heels surrounds me?

6Those who put confidence in their wealth and boast in the abundance of their riches.

7No man can possibly redeem his brother, nor give God a ransom for him.

8Precious is the ransom for their lives, and it ceases forever.

9that he live on forever and not see corruption.

10For he sees the wise die, fool and brutish perish alike, and leave their wealth to others.

11Their inward thought is that their houses endure forever, their dwelling places generation after generation; they call their lands by their own names.

12Yet man in honor does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish.

13This is the folly of their way for them, and those after them approve their sayings. Selah.

14Like a flock they are laid for Sheol; death shall shepherd them, and the upright shall reign over them in the morning, while their beauty and strength decay in Sheol away from their dwelling.

15But God will redeem my soul from Sheol's grasp, for he will take me. Selah.

16Do not fear when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house abounds.

17For when he dies he takes nothing; his glory does not go down after him.

18Though he blesses his life while he lives, people praise you when you prosper for yourself.

19You will enter the generation of his fathers; they will never see light.

20A man in honor who does not understand is like the beasts that perish.