Psalm 49:1-12

Psalm 49In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21. 1For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in this world,

2both low and high, rich and poor alike:

3My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

4I will turn my ear to a proverb; with the harp I will expound my riddle:

5Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—

6those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches?

7No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—

8the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—

9so that they should live on forever and not see decay.

10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.

11Their tombs will remain their houses Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had Or generations, / for they have named lands after themselves.

12People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish.