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I

Why should I fear in evil days,
    with the iniquity of my assailants surrounding me,
Of those who trust in their wealth
    and boast of their abundant riches?(A)
[a]No man can ransom even a brother,
    or pay to God his own ransom.(B)
The redemption of his soul is costly;
    and he will pass away forever.
10 Will he live on forever, then,
    and never see the Pit of Corruption?
11 Indeed, he will see that the wise die,
    and the fool will perish together with the senseless,(C)
    and they leave their wealth to others.(D)
12 Their tombs are their homes forever,
    their dwellings through all generations,
    “They named countries after themselves”
13     —but man does not abide in splendor.
    He is like the beasts—they perish.(E)

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Footnotes

  1. 49:8 No man can ransom even a brother: an axiom. For the practice of redemption, cf. Jb 6:21–23. A play on the first Hebrew word of Ps 49:8, 16 relates the two verses.