Psalm 49

1   Hear this, all you peoples; ♦
        listen, all you that dwell in the world,

2   You of low or high degree, ♦
        both rich and poor together.

3   My mouth shall speak of wisdom ♦
        and my heart shall meditate on understanding.

4   I will incline my ear to a parable; ♦
        I will unfold my riddle with the lyre.

5   Why should I fear in evil days, ♦
        when the malice of my foes surrounds me,

6   Such as trust in their goods ♦
        and glory in the abundance of their riches?

7   For no one can indeed ransom another ♦
        or pay to God the price of deliverance.

8   To ransom a soul is too costly; ♦
        there is no price one could pay for it,

9   So that they might live for ever, ♦
        and never see the grave.

10  For we see that the wise die also;
    with the foolish and ignorant they perish ♦
        and leave their riches to others.

11  Their tomb is their home for ever,
    their dwelling through all generations, ♦
        though they call their lands after their own names.

12  Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦
        are like the beasts that perish.

13  Such is the way of those who boast in themselves, ♦
        the end of those who delight in their own words.

14  Like a flock of sheep they are destined to die;
    death is their shepherd; ♦
        they go down straight to the Pit.

15  Their beauty shall waste away, ♦
        and the land of the dead shall be their dwelling.

16  But God shall ransom my soul; ♦
        from the grasp of death will he take me.

17  Be not afraid if some grow rich ♦
        and the glory of their house increases,

18  For they will carry nothing away when they die, ♦
        nor will their glory follow after them.

19  Though they count themselves happy while they live ♦
        and praise you for your success,

20  They shall enter the company of their ancestors ♦
        who will nevermore see the light.

21  Those who have honour, but lack understanding, ♦
        are like the beasts that perish.