Psalms 49:4-19

⁴I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.

⁵Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?

⁶They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,

⁷but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.

⁸Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough

⁹that they could live forever and not face the grave.

¹⁰Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.

¹¹They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.

¹²But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.

¹³This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! Selah.

¹⁴Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes.

¹⁵But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. Selah.

¹⁶Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.

¹⁷For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.

¹⁸They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—

¹⁹but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.