Psalms 49

1 Hear [give ear, listen carefully] this, all you peoples [nations, ethnic groups]; listen [pay attention, give ear], all inhabitants [those dwelling, living] of the world [the earth, all creation], word study 2 both [high and low, rich and poor together] low [humble, of low estate] and high [exalted, of high estate], rich [wealthy, prosperous] and poor [needy, impoverished] alike [together, as one]. word study 3 My mouth [shall speak of wisdom] will impart wisdom [and insight], and the meditation [thoughts and reflections] of my heart [inner being, soul] will bring understanding [and discernment]. word study 4 I will incline [bend, turn] my ear [to listen carefully] to a proverb [parable, wise saying]; I will express [open, solve] my riddle [dark saying, mysterious truth] with the harp [musical instrument]: word study 5 Why [for what reason, on what account] should I fear [be afraid, have dread] in times [days, periods] of trouble [evil, adversity], when [as, at the time that] wicked [iniquitous, unrighteous] usurpers [enemies, those who do evil] surround [compass, encircle] me? word study 6 They trust [rely, have confidence] in their wealth [riches, material possessions] and boast [pride themselves, glory] in their great [abundant, multitude of] riches [treasures, wealth]. word study 7 No man [no human being, none of them] can possibly [by any means] redeem [pay the price to rescue, buy back] his brother [a fellow human, relative] or pay [give to God, offer as a ransom] his ransom [the price of redemption, atonement] to God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 8 For the redemption [to ransom, rescue from captivity] of his soul [the inner, spiritual person] is costly [precious, of great value], and never can payment [ransom, price of release] suffice [be enough, fulfill the requirement], word study 9 that he should live on [still exist, never cease] forever [for all eternity, always] and not see [experience, be affected by] decay [corruption, the grave]. word study 10 For it is clear [evident, obvious to all] that wise men [those with understanding, discernment] die, and the foolish [lacking sense, brutish] and the senseless [ignorant, without discernment] both perish [come to destruction, meet their end] and leave their wealth [riches, possessions] to others [their inheritors, the next generation]. word study 11 Their graves [eternal resting places, final homes] are their eternal homes [lasting dwellings, forever habitations]— their dwellings [houses, tabernacles] for endless generations [all generations, forever]— even though their lands [possessions, inheritance] were their namesakes [called after their own names, named in their honor]. word study 12 But a man [a human being, mortal], despite his wealth [riches, material possessions], cannot endure [last, remain forever]; he is like the beasts [animals, living creatures] that perish [die, come to an end]. word study 13 This is the fate [destiny, outcome] of the self-confident [foolish, trusting in their own strength] and their followers [posterity, those who come after them] who endorse [approve, delight in] their sayings [words, teachings]. Selah word study 14 Like sheep [destined for slaughter] they are destined for Sheol [the underworld, a place of darkness]. Death [the destroyer, a shepherd] will be their shepherd [the one who leads them to their fate]. The upright [righteous, just people] will rule them in the morning [at the time of judgment], and their form [physical body, beauty] will decay [consume, perish] in Sheol, far from their lofty [high, luxurious] abode [dwelling place, home]. word study 15 But God [the Almighty, Redeemer] will redeem [rescue, deliver from the power of] my life [soul, inner being] from Sheol [the underworld, place of the dead], for He will surely [certainly, without fail] take me [receive me, gather me to Himself] to Himself [into His presence, under His care]. Selah [pause, reflect, consider this truth] word study 16 Do not be [afraid, disturbed] amazed when a man grows [becomes, is made] rich [wealthy, prosperous], when the splendor [glory, honor] of his house [home, household] increases [is abundant, is filled with possessions]. word study 17 For when he dies [at the end of his life, when his time on earth is finished], he will carry nothing [not a single thing, no possessions] away; his abundance [wealth, riches, prosperity] will not follow him down [into the grave, to the afterlife]. word study 18 Though in his lifetime [during his earthly existence] he blesses [praises and congratulates] his soul [his inner being, his very self]— and men praise [honor and commend] you when you prosper [when you do well for yourself, are successful]— word study 19 he will join [go to, enter into] the generation [family, ancestors] of his fathers [ancestors, forefathers], who will never [for ever, never again] see [experience, behold] the light [daylight, spiritual illumination] of day [life, eternal existence]. word study 20 A man [human being, mortal] who has riches [wealth, material possessions] without understanding [insight, discernment] is like [similar to, comparable with] the beasts [animals, living creatures] that perish [die, come to an end]. word study