Psalms 49:8-20

⁸(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man is not able to give it.)

⁹So that he might have eternal life, and never see the underworld.

¹⁰For he sees that wise men come to their end, and foolish persons of low behaviour come to destruction together, letting their wealth go to others.

¹¹The place of the dead is their house for ever, and their resting-place through all generations; those who come after them give their names to their lands.

¹²But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.

¹³This is the way of the foolish; their silver is for those who come after them, and their children get the pleasure of their gold. (Selah.)

¹⁴Death will give them their food like sheep; the underworld is their fate and they will go down into it; their flesh is food for worms; their form is wasted away; the underworld is their resting-place for ever.

¹⁵But God will get back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.)

¹⁶Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house is increased;

¹⁷For at his death, he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.

¹⁸Though he might have pride in his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for yourself,

¹⁹He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will not see the light again.

²⁰Man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.