Psalm 049

English Standard Version

^5 (G)Why should I fear in ^(H)times of trouble,
    when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
⁶ those who ^(I)trust in their wealth
    and boast of the abundance of their riches?
⁷ Truly no man ^(J)can ransom another,
    or ^(K)give to God ^(L)the price of his life,
⁸ for ^(M)the ransom of their life is costly
    and can never suffice,
⁹ that he should live on forever
    and ^(N)never see the pit.

¹⁰ For he sees ^(O)that even the wise die;
    ^(P)the fool and the stupid alike must perish
    and ^(Q)leave their wealth to others.
¹¹ Their ^(R)graves are their homes forever,^[a]
    their dwelling places ^(S)to all generations,
    though they ^(T)called lands by their own names.
¹² Man in his pomp ^(U)will not remain;
    ^(V)he is like the beasts that perish.

¹³ This is the path of those who have ^(W)foolish confidence;
    yet after them people approve of their boasts.^[b] Selah
¹⁴ Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
    death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright ^(X)shall rule over them in the morning.
    ^(Y)Their form shall be consumed ^(Z)in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
¹⁵ But God will ^(AA)ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
    for he will ^(AB)receive me. Selah

¹⁶ Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
    when the glory of his house increases.
^17 (AC)For when he dies he will ^(AD)carry nothing away;
    his glory will not go down after him.
¹⁸ For though, while he lives, he counts himself ^(AE)blessed
    —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
¹⁹ his soul will ^(AF)go to the generation of his fathers,
    who will never again ^(AG)see light.
^20 (AH)Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.