Psalm 49 :: Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

both low and high,

rich and poor together.

My mouth speaks wisdom;

my heart’s meditation brings understanding.

I turn my ear to a proverb;

I explain my riddle with a lyre.

Why should I fear in times of trouble?

The iniquity of my foes surrounds me.

They trust in their wealth

and boast of their abundant riches.

Yet these cannot redeem a person[fn]

or pay his ransom to God —

since the price of redeeming him is too costly,

one should forever stop trying[fn] —

so that he may live forever

and not see the Pit.

For one can see that the wise die;

the foolish and stupid also pass away.

Then they leave their wealth to others.

Their graves are their permanent homes,[fn]

their dwellings from generation to generation,

though they have named estates after themselves.

But despite his assets,[fn] mankind will not last;

he is like the animals that perish.

This is the way of those who are arrogant,

and of their followers,

who approve of their words.[fn]Selah

Like sheep they are headed for Sheol;

Death will shepherd them.

The upright will rule over them in the morning,

and their form will waste away in Sheol,[fn]

far from their lofty abode.

But God will redeem me

from the power of Sheol,

for he will take me.Selah

Do not be afraid when a person gets rich,

when the wealth[fn] of his house increases.

For when he dies, he will take nothing at all;

his wealth will not follow him down.

Though he blesses himself during his lifetime —

and you are acclaimed when you do well for yourself —

he will go to the generation of his ancestors;

they will never see the light.

Mankind, with his assets

but without understanding,

is like the animals that perish.