[1] Alamoth. To the chief music-maker. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. [2]
\49:1\Give attention to this, all you peoples; let your ears be open, all
you who are living in the world. [3] \49:2\High and low together, the poor,
and those who have wealth. [4] \49:3\From my mouth will come words of
wisdom; and in the thoughts of my heart will be knowledge. [5] \49:4\I will
put my teaching into a story; I will make my dark sayings clear with music.
[6] \49:5\What cause have I for fear in the days of evil, when the
evil-doing of those who are working for my downfall is round about me? [7]
\49:6\Even of those whose faith is in their wealth, and whose hearts are
lifted up because of their stores. [8] \49:7\Truly, no man may get back his
soul for a price, or give to God the payment for himself; [9]
\49:8\(Because it takes a great price to keep his soul from death, and man
is not able to give it.) [10] \49:9\So that he might have eternal life, and
never see the underworld. [11] \49:10\For 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. [12] \49:11\The 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.
[13] \49:12\But man, like the animals, does not go on for ever; he comes to
an end like the beasts. [14] \49:13\This 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.) [15] \49:14\Death 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. [16] \49:15\But God will get
back my soul; for he will take me from the power of death. (Selah.) [17]
\49:16\Have no fear when wealth comes to a man, and the glory of his house
is increased; [18] \49:17\For at his death, he will take nothing away; his
glory will not go down after him. [19] \49:18\Though he might have pride in
his soul in his life-time, and men will give you praise if you do well for
yourself, [20] \49:19\He will go to the generation of his fathers; he will
not see the light again. [21] \49:20\Man, like the animals, does not go on
for ever; he comes to an end like the beasts.
