To the director. Of the sons of Ko′rah.+ A melody.
49 Hear this, all YOU peoples.
Give ear, all YOU inhabitants of the system of things,*+
2 YOU sons of humankind* as well as YOU sons of man,*
You rich one and you poor one together.+
3 My own mouth will speak things of wisdom,+
And the meditation of my heart will be of things of understanding.+
5 Why should I be afraid in the days of evil,+
6 Those who are trusting in their means of maintenance,+
And who keep boasting about the abundance of their riches,+
7 Not one of them* can by any means redeem even a brother,+
Nor give to God a ransom for him;*
8 (And the redemption price of their* soul is so precious+
That it has ceased to time indefinite)
10 For he sees that even the wise ones die,+
Together the stupid one and the unreasoning one perish,+
And they must leave to others their means of maintenance.+
11 Their inward wish* is that their houses may be to time indefinite,+
Their tabernacles to generation after generation.+
They have called their landed estates by their names.+
12 And yet earthling man,* though in honor, cannot keep lodging;+
He is indeed comparable with the beasts that have been destroyed.*+
13 This is the way of those who have stupidity,+
And of those coming after them who take pleasure in their very mouthings.* Se′lah.
14 Like sheep they have been appointed* to She′ol itself;+
Death itself will shepherd* them;+
And the upright ones will have them in subjection in the morning,+
15 However, God himself will redeem my soul from the hand of She′ol,+
For he will receive me. Se′lah.
16 Do not be afraid because some man gains riches,+
Because the glory of his house increases,+
17 For at his death he cannot take along anything at all;+
His glory will not go down along with him himself.+
18 For during his lifetime he kept blessing his own soul;+
(And people will laud you because you do well for yourself)+