Psalms 49

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 [For the choirmaster Of the sons of Korah Psalm] Hear this, all nations, listen, al who dwel on earth,	1 For the leader. A psalm of the Korahites.
2 people high and low, rich and poor alike!	2 Hear this, all you peoples! Give ear, all who inhabit the world,
3 My lips have wisdom to utter, my heart good sense to whisper.	3 You of lowly birth or high estate, rich and poor alike.
4 I listen careful y to a proverb, I set my riddle to the music of the harp.	4 My mouth shall speak wisdom, my heart shall offer insight.
5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble? Malice dogs me and hems me in.	5 I will turn my attention to a problem, expound my question to the music of a lyre.
6 They trust in their wealth, and boast of the profusion of their riches.	6 Why should I fear in evil days, when my wicked pursuers ring me round,
7 But no one can ever redeem himself or pay his own ransom to God,	7 Those who trust in their wealth and boast of their abundant riches?
8 the price for himself is too high; it can never be	8 One cannot redeem oneself, pay to God a ransom.
9 that he wil live on for ever and avoid the sight of the abyss.	9 Too high the price to redeem a life; one would never have enough
10 For he wil see the wise also die no less than the fool and the brute, and leave their wealth behind forothers.	10 To stay alive forever and never see the pit.
11 For ever no home but their tombs, their dwel ing-place age after age, though they gave their name towhole territories.	11 Anyone can see that the wisest die, the fool and the senseless pass away too, and must leave their wealth to others.
12 In prosperity people lose their good sense, they become no better than dumb animals.	12 Tombs are their homes forever, their dwellings through all generations, though they gave their names to their lands.
13 So they go on in their self-assurance, right up to the end they are content with their lot.Pause	13 For all their riches mortals do not abide; they perish like the beasts.
14 They are penned in Sheol like sheep, Death wil lead them to pasture, and those who are honest wilrule over them. In the morning al trace of them wil be gone, Sheol wil be their home.	14 This is the destiny of those who trust in folly, the end of those so pleased with their wealth. Selah
15 But my soul God wil ransom from the clutches of Sheol, and wil snatch me up.Pause	15 Like sheep they are herded into Sheol, where death will be their shepherd. Straight to the grave they descend, where their form will waste away, Sheol will be their palace.
16 Do not be overawed when someone gets rich, and lives in ever greater splendour;	16 But God will redeem my life, will take me from the power of Sheol. Selah
17 when he dies he wil take nothing with him, his wealth wil not go down with him.	17 Do not fear when others become rich, when the wealth of their houses grows great.
18 Though he pampered himself while he lived -- and people praise you for looking after yourself-	18 When they die they will take nothing with them, their wealth will not follow them down.
19 he will go to join the ranks of his ancestors, who wil never again see the light.	19 When living, they congratulate themselves and say: "All praise you, you do so well."
20 In prosperity people lose their good sense, they become no better than dumb animals.	20 But they will join the company of their forebears, never again to see the light.
	21 For all their riches, if mortals do not have wisdom, they perish like the beasts.