Psalm 49

Contemporary English Version

⁵ Why should I be afraid
    in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded
    by vicious enemies?
⁶ They trust in their riches
and brag about
    all their wealth.
⁷ You cannot buy back your life
    or pay off God!
⁸ It costs far too much
    to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough
⁹ to stay alive forever
    and safe from death.

^10 (A) We see that wise people die,
    and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left
    for someone else.
¹¹ The grave^[a] will be their home
    forever and ever,
although they once had land
    of their own.
¹² Our human glory disappears,
    and, like animals, we die.

¹³ Here is what happens to fools
and to those who trust
    the words of fools:^[b]
14 They are like sheep
with death as their shepherd,
    leading them to the grave.
In the morning God's people
    will walk all over them,^[c]
as their bodies lie rotting
    in their home, the grave.
¹⁵ But God will rescue me
    from the power of death.

¹⁶ Don't let it bother you
when others get rich
    and live in luxury.
¹⁷ Soon they will die
and all their wealth
    will be left behind.

¹⁸ We humans are praised
    when we do well,
and all of us are glad
    to be alive.
¹⁹ But we each will go down
    to our ancestors,
never again to see
    the light of day.
²⁰ Our human glory disappears,
    and, like animals, we die.