Psalm 49

Holman Christian Standard Bible

⁵ Why should I fear in times of trouble?
The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.^(E)
6 They trust in their wealth
and boast of their abundant riches.^(F)
7 Yet these cannot redeem a person^[b]
or pay his ransom to God^(G)—
⁸ since the price of redeeming him is too costly,
one should forever stop trying^[c](H)—
⁹ so that he may live forever
and not see the Pit.^(I)

¹⁰ For one can see that wise men die;
foolish and stupid men also pass away.^(J)
Then they leave their wealth to others.^(K)
11 Their graves are their eternal homes,^[d]
their homes from generation to generation,
though they have named estates after themselves.^(L)
12 But despite his assets,^[e] man will not last;
he is like the animals that perish.^(M)

¹³ This is the way of those who are arrogant,
and of their followers,
who approve of their words.^[f](N)Selah
¹⁴ Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;
Death will shepherd them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning,^(O)
and their form will waste away in Sheol,^[g]
far from their lofty abode.^(P)
15 But God will redeem my life
from the power of Sheol,
for He will take me.^(Q)Selah

¹⁶ Do not be afraid when a man gets rich,
when the wealth^[h] of his house increases.^(R)
17 For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;
his wealth^[i] will not follow him down.^(S)
18 Though he praises himself during his lifetime—
and people praise you when you do well for yourself^(T)—
¹⁹ he will go to the generation of his fathers;
they will never see the light.^(U)
20 A man with valuable possessions^[j]
but without understanding
is like the animals that perish.^(V)